bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agriculture Status and Women’s Role in Agriculture Production and Rural Transformation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Authors: Salem Hilmi S.
Published: August 2019

This paper focuses on the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), comprised of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, with respect to the status of agriculture and the role of Palestinian women in the agriculture sector, water management, and agricultural sustainability in rural areas in the OPT. Recent estimates indicate that 15.4% and 7.8% of the total employed are employed in the agriculture sector in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, respectively. Despite the fact that the contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP has decreased to 3% only, this sector is still hosting until recently 7.5%–10.5%, on average, of the employed in the OPT. Palestinian women only compose 18% of the labor force, and a little bit more than one fifth of them (22%, which is equivalent to around 4% of the women’s labor force) contribute to the agricultural sector in the OPT. However, most of women’s labor in the informal sector remains hidden and, thus, their contribution to the agriculture sector in the form of home-based activities is much higher than what is officially reported. Over 30% of informal agricultural work is performed by women as part of their domestic responsibilities. In addition, Palestinian women work at home as well as in the field, contributing effectively to the agriculture sector (plant and animal production) and, thus, to sustainable development in the OPT. With respect to water resources, women in rural areas play a considerable role in making water available for domestic and agricultural use, either by bringing water from far distances or getting water from springs and domestic harvesting wells (cisterns). Despite the fact that the status of agriculture in the OPT is really bad and getting even worse, and despite the presence of economic, financial, and political hardships and challenges, Palestinian women have obviously contributed to the agricultural sector towards achieving sustainable development in their communities in the OPT’s rural areas.
HUBUNGAN PERAN KELUARGA, TOKOH MASYARAKAT DAN KADER DENGAN KELENGKAPAN IMUNISASI DASAR PADA BAYI 11-12 BULAN
Authors: Putri Nita Tri
Published: August 2019

World Health Organization (WHO) menyatakan bahwa dari 194 negara anggotanya, 65 di antaranya memiliki cakupan imunisasi dasar lengkap di bawah target global 90%. Menurut Kementerian Kesehatan RI (2016) Imunisasi Dasar Lengkap (IDL) mencapai 86,8%. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan peran keluarga, tokoh masyarakat dan kader dengan kelengkapan imunisasi dasar pada bayi 11-12 bulandi wilayah kerja Puskesmas Padang Alai Kabupaten Padang Pariaman tahun 2018.

Desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskriptif analitikdengan rancangan cross sectional. Penelitian dilaksanakan pada bulanAgustustahun 2018 di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Padang Alai. Populasi ibu yang mempunyai bayi berumur 11-12 bulan, sebanyak 256 orang. Sampel diambil sebanyak 71 orang dengan teknik randomsampling.

Hasil dari penelitian menunjukkan bahwa 59,2% peran keluarga rendah,52,1% peran tokoh masyarakat negative,63,4% peran kader masih rendah, 70,4% tidak memberikan imunisasi dasar lengkap pada anaknya.Terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara peran keluargadengan  pemberian imunisasi  dasar lengkap dengan p value 0,009.Terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara peran tokoh masyarakat dengan pemberian imunisasi  dasar lengkap dengan p value 0,005. Terdapat hubungan yang bermakna antara peran kader  dengan  pemberian imunisasi  dasar lengkap dengan p value 0,009.

Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat diambil kesimpulan bahwa belum maksimalnya pemberian imunisasi dasar lengkap pada bayi disebabkan karena kurangnya peran keluarga, peran tokoh masyarakat dan juga peran kader. Diharapkan kepada petugas bidan desa (petugas posyandu) agar lebih intensif lagi menyampaikan informasi ke masyarakat. Hendaknya menjalin kerjasama dengan tokoh masyarakat, tokoh adat dalam memberikan penyuluhan pada masyarakat mengenai pentingnya imunisasi dasar lengkap pada anak.
Exploring Ibn Khaldun’s Views On The Religious Roles Towards Happiness: A Study Of Religionswissenschaft In The Muqaddimah
Authors: Wan Razali Wan Mohd Fazrul Azdi , Awang Jaffary
Published: August 2019

Religionswissenschaft or the study of religion is an attempt to understand various aspects of religion, especially through the use of other intellectual disciplines. The Muqaddimah is principally meant to be an introduction to the voluminous text of history, namely Kitab al-cIbar. Yet, the creation of Muqaddimah includes information on the study of human, which simultaneously includes information and views on religions. There are many views on religion highlighted by Ibn Khaldun in his Muqaddimah. These views on religion mostly describe the roles of religion in human life as found through his sociohistorical approach of cUmrān science. Through the use of qualitative content analysis on Muqaddimah text, this study found that there is a focus made by Ibn Khaldun in his views on religion, namely religion and happiness. This article explores Ibn Khaldun’s views on religion and its roles for human happiness. Many modern scholars of religious study have shared their views on religious roles towards happiness. These modern views came from scholars of many religious backgrounds such as the atheists, seculars and religionists. In the Muqaddimah, Ibn Khaldun pronounces his understanding of happiness, which are not divorced from the religious teachings and practices. This article purports to highlight Ibn Khaldun’s views on religious roles towards happiness, which focusing on Ibn Khaldun’s justifications and rationalizations for such religious roles. From findings on Ibn Khaldun’s views on religious roles towards happiness, this article suggests that Ibn Khaldun’s rationalizations for such religious roles determine his thought style that is integrative (naqlī-caqlī) or in tawhidic manner. This article proposes that Muqaddimah is supposed to be taken as a representative of Islamic thought in the midst of many references for religious study, especially in encountering various present views on religious roles in human’s life.
Systematic Review of the Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Markers of Metabolic Dysfunction
Authors: Gorman Shelley , de Courten Barbora , Lucas Robyn
Published: August 2019

Emerging findings suggest that exposure to ultraviolet wavelengths of sunlight modulates metabolic function. Here we review the metabolic effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), focusing on the effects of phototherapies (that administer UVR), and advice to increase sun exposure in individuals enrolled in clinical trials and intervention studies. We identified 25 studies in which the effects of UVR on metabolic outcomes were examined, including: narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy (nbUVB, n = 12); psoralen ultraviolet A phototherapy (n = 4); other types of UVR phototherapy (n = 5); and sun exposure advice (n = 5). Most studies recruited a small number of participants (≤100), who were middle-aged individuals undergoing treatment for psoriasis flare, with phototherapy or sun exposure advice administered for ≤12 weeks. Data obtained at baseline were usually compared with an endpoint following treatment with UVR, for a limited number of outcomes. There were few studies in which markers of glucose metabolism were assessed, with some beneficial effects of sun exposure (but not phototherapy) reported. LDL-cholesterol levels were lower in individuals receiving sun exposure advice, while treatment with nbUVB reduced blood concentrations of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6). Future studies should focus on determining whether the effects of these interventions change with time, and if they are dependent on the source of UVR (i.e. phototherapy or sun exposure) and wavelength(s) of light administered. Furthermore, studies need to measure a variety of (clinical) markers of glucose metabolism, adiposity and inflammation, control for factors such as skin type and sex, and stratify participants for metabolic disease diagnosis.
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE PREPARATION: TITLE, ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS
Authors: Lamanauskas Vincentas
Published: August 2019

Scientific article writing is undoubtedly an inseparable part of academic activity. Every researcher/scientist, in one way or another, has to declare scientific research activity results, i.e., to publish in scientific press. If this is not done, it is considered that a scientific work is not finished regardless of the size of the research/experiments carried out and so on. Such information has to be completely understandable not only in the academic environment but also in society. Publications in the international and independent science journals acknowledged in the academic community show the real value of the scientist and his works. This does not mean in any way that the other level publications are not necessary (Lamanauskas, 2013). Every publication has its auditorium, purpose, aims and so on. Regardless of the type of publication broadly speaking, it has to be appropriately prepared.
THE USAGE OF VANDERVEKEN THEORY TO ANALYSE ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS ON THE “OPINION” COLUMN OF THE JAKARTA POST EDITION 1st - 5th of SEPTEMBER 2018
Authors: Puspita Rani Herning , Sunarti Sunarti
Published: August 2019

There are various columns in the newspaper, from the news columns to the opinion column. The speaker letter column contains letters from the speaker which contain various things such as opinions, responses, criticisms, aspirations, suggestions and complaints. Sometimes the language the speaker uses to convey his intent is not explicitly stated. The problems discussed in this study are any speech acts contained in the opinion column of the Jakarta Post newspaper. The objectives of this study are (1) What types of illocutionary speech acts used by speakers in the "Opinion" column in The Jakarta Post newspaper; (2) What functions of illocutionary speech acts used in the "Opinion" column in the Jakarta Post newspaper. The approach used in this study is descriptive qualitative. The method of data collection uses note and technique notes. The data population used in this study is the speech contained in the column "Opinion" in the August 2009 edition of the Jakarta Post newspaper. The results of this study are that every person has different ways in giving their opinion about news or topic. It can be complaining, agreeing, and request. Those all expressive can be analysed using illocutionary acts or speech acts.
Trombocitopenia como indicador predictivo de cierre deficitario de ductus arterioso en prematuros del Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal
Authors: Saldaña-Díaz Claudia Veralucía , Roque-Quezada Juan Carlos E. , Saldaña-Montes Silvio Pedro , De-la-Cruz-Vargas Jhony
Published: August 2019

Objetivo. Determinar si la trombocitopenia es un indicador predictivo de cierre deficitario de ductus arterioso en prematuros del INMP. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de tipo casos y controles. Incluimos 250 recién nacidos prematuros nacidos entre enero a julio del 2016. 87 de ellos presentaron DAP. Empleamos un análisis estadístico descriptivo e inferencial utilizando el paquete estadístico SPSS v.23. Resultados. La trombocitopenia, encontrada en el primer día de vida estuvo asociada de forma estadísticamente significativa con la presencia de DAP (OR=8.9; IC: 95%, 4.7-16.8; p< 0,05). La curva ROC que nos reveló que la trombocitopenia es una prueba de baja sensibilidad (59.2%) y de alta especificidad (89.6%) para diagnosticar DAP. No encontramos asociación entre la respuesta al tratamiento con AINES y la trombocitopenia en estos sujetos. Conclusiones. La trombocitopenia del primer día de vida y el DAP están asociadas de forma estadísticamente significativa, como prueba diagnóstica tiene baja sensibilidad, pero alta especificidad. No encontramos asociación con la respuesta al tratamiento con AINES.
Is the CFA Franc Prone to Speculative Attacks or a Contagion Effect: A Stochastic-Markov Transition Analysis for Cameroon
Authors: Nkwatoh Louis S. , Cornelius Kwanga
Published: August 2019

The study employs the Markovian processs on annual nominal effective exchange rate of CFA Franc spanning 1975 to 2017 to examine whether the CFA franc is prone to speculative attacks or a contagion effect. The findings reveal that the expected duration for the CFA Franc to be undervalued is twice higher than for it to be overvalued. This validates the contagion effect of a Euro crisis on the CFA Franc. Though the level of growth increased significantly during the undervaluation era, the level of uncertainty remains equally high. The findings confirm that exchange rate devaluation influences the expectations of private agents, which in turn triggers an attack on the domestic currency.
SOCIAL SUPPORT OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH LEUKEMIA
Authors: Nursyamsiyah Nursyamsiyah
Published: August 2019

Background: Leukemia in children is not only a stressor for children but also all family members, especially for parents. Caring for children with leukemia relies on the importance of social support to overcome various crises caused by the disease and its treatment. However, parents' perceptions of social support can be affected by several factors. Thus, assessment of factors that impact social support of parents of children with leukemia is needed.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the social support perceived by parents of children with leukemia and examine the relationship between perceived social support and characteristics of parents and children.

Methods: A quantitative study with cross-sectional approach in 104 parents of children with leukemia aged 3-18 years. Social support was measured using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman Test.

Results: Total scale score of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) of parents of children with leukemia was 5.74 ± 0.48. The highest subscale score was on family support (6.06 ± 0.46). There were statistically significant differences in MSPSS total scores based on parental education and family income (p <0.05).

Conclusion: Nurses play an important role to provide support for parents who have children with leukemia, especially in risky families. Support that nurses can provide among parents of children with leukemia is by giving information about disease and care, empowering the family, and finding support outside the family, such as the source of financial support related to treatment, utilization of cancer foundations, and supporting group and others.
Auditorium Acoustics
Authors: Orlowski Raf
Published: August 2019

This Special Issue on the subject of Auditorium Acoustics follows an international conference which was held at the new Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg in October, 2018 [...]
Forage Yield and Quality Indices of Silage-Corn Following Organic and Inorganic Phosphorus Amendments in Podzol Soil under Boreal Climate
Authors: Ali Waqas , Nadeem Muhammad , Ashiq Waqar , Zaeem Muhammad , Thomas Raymond , Kavanagh Vanessa , Cheema Mumtaz
Published: August 2019

Dairy and livestock industry drives the economy and food security through sustainable supply of dairy products and meat across the globe. Dairy farm operations produce a large quantity of manure, which is a cheap and abundant plant nutrient source. However, insufficient forage production with low quality matrix are the current challenges of dairy industry in boreal climate due to extreme weather conditions. To address these challenges, a field experiment was conducted for three years to determine the effects of organic (dairy manure-based phosphorus (DMP)) and inorganic phosphorus (P) amendments on forage yield and quality indices of silage-corn cultivated in boreal climate. Experimental treatments were: (i) DMP with high P concentration (DMP1); (ii) DMP with low P concentration (DMP2) and (iii) inorganic P, also designated as control; and five silage-corn genotypes (Fusion-RR, Yukon-R, A4177G3-RIB, DKC23-17RIB, DKC26-28RIB). Results revealed that DMP1 amendment produced significantly higher forage yield compared to inorganic P, whereas non-significant effects were shown on quality indices except P mineral, available and crude protein. Yukon-R and DKC26-28RIB showed superior agronomic performance and produced significantly higher forage yield, whereas A4177G3-RIB produced lowest forage yield but exhibited superior nutritional quality; higher minerals, protein, total digestible nutrients, net energy for gain, net energy for maintenance and calculated milk production compared to other genotypes. Yukon-R not only produced higher forage, but also displayed good forage quality indices which were very close to A4177G3-RIB genotype. Therefore, we conclude that Yukon-R cultivation following DMP as organic amendment could be a sustainable production practice to attain high forage yield with optimum nutritional quality to meet the forage needs of growing dairy industry in boreal climate.
The Development of Magnesium-Based Resorbable and Iron-Based Biocorrodible Metal Scaffold Technology and Biomedical Applications in Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Authors: Hideo-Kajita Alexandre , Wopperer Samuel , Seleme Vinícius Bocchino , Ribeiro Marcelo Harada , Campos Carlos M.
Published: August 2019

In the treatment of atherosclerotic disease patients, the adoption of second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in percutaneous coronary intervention reduced the occurrence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and acute stent thrombosis (ST) when compared to bare metal stents and 1st generation DES. However, the permanent encaging of the vessel wall by any of the metallic stents perpetuates the inflammation process and prevents vasomotion in the treated segment. Aiming to overcome this issue, the bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) concept was developed by providing transient vascular radial support to the target segment during the necessary time to heal and disappearing after a period of time. Close to 20 years since BRS technology was first reported, the interventional cardiology field saw the rise and fall of several BRS devices. Although iron-based BRS is an emerging technology, currently, magnesium-alloy resorbable scaffolds devices are supported with the most robust data. This manuscript aims to review the concept of magnesium-based BRS devices, as well as their bioresorption mechanisms and the status of this technology, and the clinical outcomes of patients treated with magnesium BRS and to review the available evidence on iron-based BRS technology.
Singulation of Objects in Cluttered Environment Using Dynamic Estimation of Physical Properties
Authors: Imran Abid , Kim Sang-Hwa , Park Young-Bin , Suh Il Hong , Yi Byung-Ju
Published: August 2019

This paper presents a scattering-based technique for object singulation in a cluttered environment. An analytical model-based control scattering approach is necessary for controlled object singulation. Controlled scattering implies achieving the desired distances between objects after collision. However, current analytical approaches are limited due to insufficient information of the physical environment properties, such as the coefficient of restitution, coefficient of friction, and masses of objects. In this paper, this limitation is overcome by introducing a technique to learn these parameters from unlabeled videos. For the analytical model, an impulse-based approach is used. A virtual world simulator is designed based on a dynamic model and the estimated physical properties of all objects in the environment. Experiments are performed in a virtual world until the targeted scattering pattern is achieved. The targeted scattering pattern implies that all objects are singulated. Finally, the desired input from the virtual world is fed to the robot manipulator to perform real-world scattering.
Predicting the Mechanical Properties of Bimrocks with High Rock Block Proportions Based on Resonance Testing Technology and Damage Theory
Authors: Lin Yuexiang , Peng Limin , Lei Mingfeng , Wang Xiang , Cao Chengyong
Published: August 2019

Block-in-matrix-rocks (bimrocks) are very complicated geological masses that cause many challenging problems during the design and construction of engineering projects, such as parameter determination and landsliding. Successful engineering design and construction depends on a suitable constitutive model and reliable design parameters for geological masses. In this paper, the vibration attenuation signal of welded bimrocks was obtained and studied using resonance test technology. Combined with a uniaxial compression test, a constitutive model was proposed to describe the mechanical behavior of welded bimrocks. On this basis, the relations between the dynamic elastic modulus and the physical parameters of bimrocks were established, which included macroscopic mechanical parameters and damage constitutive parameters. Consequently, a new technological process was proposed to provide quick identification of the mechanical properties of welded bimrocks. The results indicate that the dynamic elastic modulus is highly correlated with the rock block proportion (RBP) and uniaxial compression strength (UCS). It is an effective parameter to predict the strength of the bimrocks with high RBPs. Additionally, the proposed constitutive model, which is based on damage theory, can accurately simulate the strain softening behavior of the bimrocks. Combining the resonant frequency technology and the proposed constitutive model, the complete stress strain curve can be obtained in a rapid and accurate manner, which provides a further guarantee of the stability and safety of underground engineering.
A Bi-LSTM Based Ensemble Algorithm for Prediction of Protein Secondary Structure
Authors: Hu Hailong , Li Zhong , Elofsson Arne , Xie Shangxin
Published: August 2019

The prediction of protein secondary structure continues to be an active area of research in bioinformatics. In this paper, a Bi-LSTM based ensemble model is developed for the prediction of protein secondary structure. The ensemble model with dual loss function consists of five sub-models, which are finally joined by a Bi-LSTM layer. In contrast to existing ensemble methods, which generally train each sub-model and then join them as a whole, this ensemble model and sub-models can be trained simultaneously and the performance of each model can be observed and compared during the training process. Three independent test sets (e.g., data1199, 513 protein Cuff & Barton set (CB513) and 203 proteins from Critical Appraisals Skills Programme (CASP203)) are employed to test the method. On average, the ensemble model achieved 84.3% in Q 3 accuracy and 81.9% in segment overlap measure ( SOV ) score by using 10-fold cross validation. There is an improvement of up to 1% over some state-of-the-art prediction methods of protein secondary structure.
From the Memory Books of Josely Carvalho
Authors: Duganne Erina
Published: August 2019

In this interview, Brazilian-born multi-media artist Josely Carvalho (b. 1942) reflects back on her art making practice in the 1980s. Among the subjects that she addresses are her bi-nationalism, her use of the silkscreen process, and her association with the 1984 activist campaign Artists Call Against U.S. Intervention in Central America. She also speaks about working as a Latin American artist in New York City during this period, as well as her involvement with galleries and arts organizations such as St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, Central Hall Cooperative Gallery, and Franklin Furnace.
Surface Heat Fluxes over the Northern Arabian Gulf and the Northern Red Sea: Evaluation of ECMWF-ERA5 and NASA-MERRA2 Reanalyses
Authors: Al Senafi Fahad , Anis Ayal , Menezes Viviane
Published: August 2019

The air–sea heat fluxes in marginal seas and under extreme weather conditions constitute an essential source for energy transport and mixing dynamics. To reproduce these effects in numerical models, we need a better understanding of these fluxes. In response to this demand, we undertook a study to examine the surface heat fluxes in the Arabian Gulf (2013 to 2014) and Red Sea (2008 to 2010)—the two salty Indian Ocean marginal seas. We use high-quality buoy observations from offshore meteorological stations and data from two reanalysis products, the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA2) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ERA5, the fifth generation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) atmospheric reanalyses of global climate. Comparison of the reanalyses with the in situ-derived fluxes shows that both products underestimate the net heat fluxes in the Gulf and the Red Sea, with biases up to −45 W/m 2 in MERRA2. The reanalyses reproduce relatively well the seasonal variability in the two regions and the effects of wind events on air–sea fluxes. The results suggest that when forcing numerical models, ERA5 might provide a preferable dataset of surface heat fluxes for the Arabian Gulf while for the Red Sea the MERRA2 seems preferable.
Gelatin-Methacryloyl (GelMA) Formulated with Human Platelet Lysate Supports Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation and Enhances the Hydrogel’s Mechanical Properties
Authors: Kirsch Marline , Birnstein Luise , Pepelanova Iliyana , Handke Wiebke , Rach Jessica , Seltsam Axel , Scheper Thomas , Lavrentieva Antonina
Published: August 2019

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture is a major focus of current research, since cultivation under physiological conditions provides more reliable information about in vivo cell behavior. 3D cell cultures are used in basic research to better understand intercellular and cell-matrix interactions. Moreover, 3D cell culture plays an increasingly important role in the in vitro testing of bioactive substances and tissue engineering. Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels of different degrees of functionalization (DoFs) are a versatile tool for 3D cell culture and related applications such as bioprinting. Human platelet lysate (hPL) has already demonstrated positive effects on 2D cell cultures of different cell types and has proven a valuable alternative to fetal calf serum (FCS). Traditionally, all hydrogels are formulated using buffers. In this study, we supplemented GelMA hydrogels of different DoF with hPL during adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AD-MSCs) encapsulation. We studied the effect of hPL supplementation on the spreading, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs. In addition, the influence of hPL on hydrogel properties was also investigated. We demonstrate that the addition of hPL enhanced AD-MSC spreading, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the addition of hPL also increased GelMA viscosity and stiffness.
Roles of Small-Molecule Compounds in Plant Adventitious Root Development
Authors: Deng Yuzheng , Wang Chunlei , Wang Ni , Wei Lijuan , Li Weifang , Yao Yandong , Liao Weibiao
Published: August 2019

Adventitious root (AR) is a kind of later root, which derives from stems and leaf petioles of plants. Many different kinds of small signaling molecules can transmit information between cells of multicellular organisms. It has been found that small molecules can be involved in many growth and development processes of plants, including stomatal movement, flowering, fruit ripening and developing, and AR formation. Therefore, this review focuses on discussing the functions and mechanisms of small signaling molecules in the adventitious rooting process. These compounds, such as nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen gas (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), ethylene (ETH), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), can be involved in the induction of AR formation or development. This review also sums the crosstalk between these compounds. Besides, those signaling molecules can regulate the expressions of some genes during AR development, including cell division genes, auxin-related genes, and adventitious rooting-related genes. We conclude that these small-molecule compounds enhance adventitious rooting by regulating antioxidant, water balance, and photosynthetic systems as well as affecting transportation and distribution of auxin, and these compounds further conduct positive effects on horticultural plants under environmental stresses. Hence, the effect of these molecules in plant AR formation and development is definitely a hot issue to explore in the horticultural study now and in the future.
The Common Partner of Several Methyltransferases TRMT112 Regulates the Expression of N6AMT1 Isoforms in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Leetsi Lilian , Õunap Kadri , Abroi Aare , Kurg Reet
Published: August 2019

Methylation is a widespread modification occurring in DNA, RNA and proteins. The N6AMT1 (HEMK2) protein has DNA N6-methyladenine as well as the protein glutamine and histone lysine methyltransferase activities. The human genome encodes two different isoforms of N6AMT1, the major isoform and the alternatively spliced isoform, where the substrate binding motif is missing. Several RNA methyltransferases involved in ribosome biogenesis, tRNA methylation and translation interact with the common partner, the TRMT112 protein. In this study, we show that TRMT112 regulates the expression of N6AMT1 isoforms in mammalian cells. Both isoforms are equally expressed on mRNA level, but only isoform 1 is detected on the protein level in human cells. We show that the alternatively spliced isoform is not able to interact with TRMT112 and when translated, is rapidly degraded from the cells. This suggests that TRMT112 is involved in cellular quality control ensuring that N6AMT1 isoform with missing substrate binding domain is eliminated from the cells. The down-regulation of TRMT112 does not affect the N6AMT1 protein levels in cells, suggesting that the two proteins of TRMT112 network, WBSCR22 and N6AMT1, are differently regulated by their common cofactor.
Lignin and Cellulose Blends as Pharmaceutical Excipient for Tablet Manufacturing via Direct Compression
Authors: Domínguez-Robles Juan , Stewart Sarah A. , Rendl Andreas , González Zoilo , Donnelly Ryan F. , Larrañeta Eneko
Published: August 2019

Extensive efforts are being made to find alternative uses for lignin (LIG). In the present work the use of this biopolymer as excipient to prepare tablets was studied. For this purpose, LIG was combined with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and used as excipients to prepare directly compressed tablets containing a model drug, tetracycline (TC). The excipients contained different concentrations of LIG: 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% (w/w). Two different compression forces were used (two and five tonnes). When formulations were prepared using LIG as the only excipient, tablets were formed, but they showed lower densities and crushing strength than the ones obtained with only MCC or LIG/MCC blends. Moreover, tablets prepared using five tonnes of compression force showed TC releases ranging from 40% to 70% of the drug loading. On the other hand, the tablets prepared using two tonnes of compression force showed a faster and more efficient TC release, between 60% and 90%. The presence of LIG in the tablets modified significantly the release profile and the maximum amount of TC released. Finally, a DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrozyl) assay was performed to confirm that the presence of LIG provided antioxidant properties to the formulations. Accordingly, LIG has potential as a pharmaceutical excipient.
Comparative Analysis of Panax ginseng Berries from Seven Cultivars Using UPLC-QTOF/MS and NMR-Based Metabolic Profiling
Authors: Yoon Dahye , Choi Bo-Ram , Kim Young-Chang , Oh Seon Min , Kim Hyoung-Geun , Kim Jang-Uk , Baek Nam-In , Kim Suhkmann , Lee Dae Young
Published: August 2019

The commercial use of Panax ginseng berries is increasing as P. ginseng berries are known to contain large amounts of ginsenosides, and many pharmacological activities have been reported for the various ginsenosides. For the proper use of P. ginseng berries, it is necessary to study efficient and accurate quality control and the profiling of the overall composition of each cultivar. Ginseng berry samples from seven cultivars (Eumseung, Chung-buk Province, Republic of Korea) were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) for profiling of the ginsenosides, and high-resolution magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR) spectroscopy for profiling of the primary metabolites. Comparing twenty-six ginsenoside profiles between the variant representatives and between the violet-stem variant, Kumpoong and Sunwon were classified. In the case of primary metabolites, the cultivars Kumpoong and Gopoong were classified. As a result of correlation analyses of the primary and secondary metabolites, in the Gopoong cultivar, the metabolism was found to lean toward energy metabolism rather than ginsenoside synthesis, and accumulation of osmolytes was low. The Gopoong cultivar had higher levels of most of the amino acids, such as arginine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, threonine, and valine, and it contained the highest level of choline and the lowest level of myo-inositol. Except for these, there were no significant differences of primary metabolites. In the Kumpoong cultivar, the protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type ginsenosides, ginsenoside Re and ginsenoside Rg2, were much lower than in the other cultivars, while the other PPT-type ginsenosides were inversely found in much higher amounts than in other cultivars. The Sunwon cultivar showed that variations of PPT-type ginsenosides were significantly different between samples. However, the median values of PPT-type ginsenosides of Sunwon showed similar levels to those of Kumpoong. The difference in primary metabolites used for metabolism for survival was found to be small in our results. Our data demonstrated the characteristics of each cultivar using profiling data of the primary and secondary metabolites, especially for Gopoong, Kumpoong, and Sunwon. These profiling data provided important information for further research and commercial use.
Importance of Body Stance in Fog Droplet Collection by the Namib Desert Beetle
Authors: Chakrabarti Unmeelan , Paoli Roberto , Chatterjee Souvick , Megaridis Constantine M.
Published: August 2019

The fog-basking behavior of the Onymacris unguicularis, a beetle species living in the coastal regions of the Namibian desert, has recently caught the attention of the engineering community, as suggesting a viable biomimetic approach to address the problem of harvesting water in arid regions of the globe. Previous research has focused on observation and analysis of the beetle’s elytron properties and how these affect fog-collection rates. The head stance taken by the Onymacris unguicularis when fog basking is well documented. However, how this stance affects droplet collection has not been studied up to now. The present paper addresses this problem from a computational fluid dynamics perspective, where three-dimensional numerical simulations are used to characterize the fog flow properties around a simplified geometry mimicking the beetle’s body. The simulations employ two-way coupling between the gas flow and the dispersed fog phase to account for feedback effects of fog droplets on the carrier fluid (air), and assume that droplets are captured after hitting the elytron surface. The study considers several combinations of free-stream velocity and droplet volume fraction. The analysis reveals that there is a range of head-stance angles, corresponding to an inclination of the beetle between 35 deg and 45 deg with respect to the horizon, that maximizes water collection on the beetle’s back, in qualitative agreement with observations in nature and laboratory experiments. A rationale is proposed to explain this phenomenon, finding that the specific head stance corresponds to the maximum residence time of fluid particles above the beetle’s elytron surface. This, in turn, designates the maximum likelihood for water droplets to be captured in the boundary layer developing over the beetle and subsequently hit the surface where they get captured. The results reveal the importance of the fluid flow pattern around the beetle’s body in addition to the microphysical properties of the elytron when reliable predictions of the water droplet collection efficiency are sought.
Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists against Hepatoblastoma
Authors: Muñoz Miguel , Rosso Marisa , Coveñas Rafael
Published: August 2019

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common malignant liver tumor that occurs during childhood. The prognosis of children with HB is favorable when a complete surgical resection of the tumor is possible, but for high-risk patients, the prognosis is much worse. New anti-HB strategies must be urgently developed. The undecapeptide substance P (SP) after binding to the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), regulates cancer cell proliferation, exerts an antiapoptotic effect, induces cell migration for invasion/metastasis, and triggers endothelial cell proliferation for neoangiogenesis. HB samples and cell lines overexpress NK-1R (the truncated form) and SP elicits HB cell proliferation. One of these strategies could be the use of non-peptide NK-1R antagonists. These antagonists exert, in a concentration-dependent manner, an antiproliferative action against HB cells (inhibit cell proliferation and induce the death of HB cells by apoptosis). NK-1R antagonists exerted a dual effect in HB: Decreased both tumor volume and angiogenic activity. Thus, the SP/NK-1R system is an important target in the HB treatment and NK-1R antagonists could act as specific drugs against HB cells. In this review, we update and discuss the use of NK-1R antagonists in the treatment of HB.
CRISPR/Cas9 Editing of the Polyomavirus Tumor Antigens Inhibits Merkel Cell Carcinoma Growth In Vitro
Authors: Temblador Arturo , Topalis Dimitrios , Andrei Graciela , Snoeck Robert
Published: August 2019

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive type of skin cancer whose main causative agent is Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). MCPyV is integrated into the genome of the tumor cells in most MCCs. Virus-positive tumor cells constitutively express two viral oncoproteins that promote cell growth: the small (sT) and the large (LT) tumor antigens (TAs). Despite the success of immunotherapies in patients with MCC, not all individuals respond to these treatments. Therefore, new therapeutic options continue to be investigated. Herein, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to target the viral oncogenes in two virus-positive MCC cell lines: MS-1 and WAGA. Frameshift mutations introduced in the target sequence upon repair of the Cas9-induced DNA break resulted in decreased LT protein levels, which subsequently impaired cell proliferation, caused cell cycle arrest, and led to increased apoptosis. Importantly, a virus-negative non-MCC cell line (HEK293T) remained unaffected, as well as those cells expressing a non-targeting single-guide RNA (sgRNA). Thus, we presumed that the noted effects were not due to the off-target activity of the TAs-targeting sgRNAs. Additionally, WAGA cells had altered levels of cellular proteins involved in cell cycle regulation, supporting the observed cell cycle. Taken together, our findings provide evidence for the development of a CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutic option for virus-positive MCC.
Crystal-Plane Dependence of Nb-Doped Rutile TiO2 Single Crystals on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Nakajima Tomohiko , Nakamura Takako , Tsuchiya Tetsuo
Published: August 2019

The crystal-plane dependence of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting property of rutile-structured Nb-doped TiO2 (TiO2:Nb) single-crystal substrates was investigated. Among the crystal planes, the (001) plane was a very promising surface for attaining good photocurrent. Under 1 sun illumination at 1.5 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode, the TiO2:Nb(001) single-crystal substrate showed the highest photocurrent (0.47 mA/cm2) among the investigated substrates. The doped Nb ions were segregated inward from the top surface, and the TiO2 ultrathin layer was formed at the surface of the crystal, resulting in the formation of a heterointerface between the TiO2 and the TiO2:Nb. The enhancement of the PEC properties of the TiO2:Nb(001) single-crystal substrate originated from favorable atomic configurations for water molecule absorption and facilitation of transport of photoexcited electron–hole pairs in the depletion layer formed around the heterointerface of TiO2 thin layers on the base crystal.
Structure-Activity Relationship of Manganese Oxide Catalysts for the Catalytic Oxidation of (chloro)-VOCs
Authors: Wang Jian , Zhao Hainan , Song Jianfei , Zhu Tingyu , Xu Wenqing
Published: August 2019

Manganese oxide catalysts, including γ-MnO2, Mn2O3 and Mn3O4, were synthesized by a precipitation method using different precipitants and calcination temperatures. The catalytic oxidations of benzene and 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) were then carried out. The effects of the calcination temperature on the catalyst morphology and activity were investigated. It was found that the specific surface area and reducibility of the catalysts decreased with the increase in the calcination temperature, and both the γ-MnO2 and Mn3O4 were converted to Mn2O3. These catalysts showed good activity and selectivity for the benzene and 1,2-DCE oxidation. The γ-MnO2 exhibited the highest activity, followed by the Mn2O3 and Mn3O4. The high activity could be associated with the large specific surface area, abundant surface oxygen species and excellent low-temperature reducibility. Additionally, the catalysts were inevitably chlorinated during the 1,2-DCE oxidation, and a decrease in the catalytic activity was observed. It suggested that a higher reaction temperature could facilitate the removal of the chlorine species. However, the reduction of the catalytic reaction interface was irreversible.
Gas Phase Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction, “A Brief Overview for Benchmarking”
Authors: Ali Shahzad , Flores Monica Claire , Razzaq Abdul , Sorcar Saurav , Hiragond Chaitanya B. , Kim Hye Rim , Park Young Ho , Hwang Yunju , Kim Hong Soo , Kim Hwapyong , Gong Eun Hee , Lee Junho , Kim Dongyun , In Su-Il
Published: August 2019

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction is emerging as an affordable route for abating its ever increasing concentration. For commercial scale applications, many constraints are still required to be addressed. A variety of research areas are explored, such as development of photocatalysts and photoreactors, reaction parameters and conditions, to resolve these bottlenecks. In general, the photocatalyst performance is mostly adjudged in terms of its ability to only produce hydrocarbon products, and other vital parameters such as light source, reaction parameters, and type of photoreactors used are not normally given appropriate attention. This makes a comprehensive comparison of photocatalytic performance quite unrealistic. Hence, probing the photocatalytic performance in terms of apparent quantum yield (AQY) with the consideration of certain process and experimental parameters is a more reasonable and prudent approach. The present brief review portrays the importance and impact of aforementioned parameters in the field of gas phase photocatalytic CO2 reduction.
Surface Display—An Alternative to Classic Enzyme Immobilization
Authors: Lozančić Mateja , Sk. Hossain Amir , Mrša Vladimir , Teparić Renata
Published: August 2019

Enzyme immobilization to solid matrices often presents a challenge due to protein conformation sensitivity, desired enzyme purity, and requirements for the particular carrier properties and immobilization technique. Surface display of enzymes at the cell walls of microorganisms presents an alternative that has been the focus of many research groups worldwide in different fields, such as biotechnology, energetics, pharmacology, medicine, and food technology. The range of systems by which a heterologous protein can be displayed at the cell surface allows the appropriate one to be found for almost every case. However, the efficiency of display systems is still quite low. The most frequently used yeast for the surface display of proteins is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, apart from its many advantages, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has some disadvantages, such as low robustness in industrial applications, hyperglycosylation of some heterologous proteins, and relatively low efficiency of surface display. Thus, in the recent years the display systems for alternative yeast hosts with better performances including Pichia pastoris, Hansenula polymorpha, Blastobotrys adeninivorans, Yarrowia lipolytica, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and others have been developed. Different strategies of surface display aimed to increase the amount of displayed protein, including new anchoring systems and new yeast hosts are reviewed in this paper.
Marine Algae-Derived Porous Carbons as Robust Electrocatalysts for ORR
Authors: Li Yang , Liu Xianhua , Wang Jiao , Yang Li , Chen Xiaochen , Wang Xin , Zhang Pingping
Published: August 2019

Large quantities of marine algae are annually produced, and have been disposed or burned as solid waste. In this work, porous carbons were prepared from three kinds of marine algae (Enteromorpha, Laminaria, and Chlorella) by a two-step activation process. The as-prepared carbon materials were doped with cobalt (Co) and applied as catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our results demonstrated that Co-doped porous carbon prepared from Enteromorpha sp. (denoted by Co-PKEC) displayed excellent catalytic performance for ORR. Co-PKEC obtained a half-wave potential of 0.810 V (vs. RHE) and a maximum current density of 4.41 mA/cm2, which was comparable to the commercial 10% Pt/C catalyst (E1/2 = 0.815 V, Jd = 4.40 mA/cm2). In addition, Co-PKEC had excellent long-term stability and methanol resistance. The catalytic ability of Co-PKEC was evaluated in a one-chamber glucose fuel cell. The maximum power density of the fuel cell equipped with the Co-PKEC cathode was 33.53 W/m2 under ambient conditions, which was higher than that of the fuel cell with a 10% Pt/C cathode. This study not only demonstrated an easy-to-implement approach to prepare robust electrochemical catalyst from marine algal biomass, but also provided an innovative strategy for simultaneous waste remediation and value-added material production.
Dynamic Interactions between Autophagosomes and Lipid Droplets in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Tran Quynh-Giao , Yoon Hyang Ran , Cho Kichul , Lee Seon-Jin , Crespo José L. , Ramanan Rishiram , Kim Hee-Sik
Published: August 2019

Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process in eukaryotic cells by which waste cellular components are recycled to maintain growth in both favorable and stress conditions. Autophagy has been linked to lipid metabolism in microalgae; however, the mechanism underlying this interaction remains unclear. In this study, transgenic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells that stably express the red fluorescent protein (mCherry) tagged-ATG8 as an autophagy marker were established. By using this tool, we were able to follow the autophagy process in live microalgal cells under various conditions. Live-cell and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging revealed physical contacts between lipid droplets and autophagic structures during the early stage of nitrogen starvation, while fusion of these two organelles was observed in prolonged nutritional deficiency, suggesting that an autophagy-related pathway might be involved in lipid droplet turnover in this alga. Our results thus shed light on the interplay between autophagy and lipid metabolism in C. reinhardtii, and this autophagy marker would be a valuable asset for further investigations on autophagic processes in microalgae.