bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of ozonation and absorption through membrane contactor to remove ammonia from waste water
Authors: Kartohardjono Sutrasno , Putri Milasari Herdiana , Bismo Setijo
Published: March 2020

Ammonia in waste water is a major pollutant produced in industrial and agricultural waste water. Ammonia is often removed by conventional technologies such as pack tower aeration, biological treatment or adsorption as ammonium ion onto zeolites. In many cases, conventional methods are very costly and inefficient, and therefore, there is a need for an alternative separation technique for more efficient removal of ammonia from waste waters. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of the combination of ozonation and absorption through membrane processes to remove ammonia from wastewater using natural hot spring water (NHSW) as absorbent. Experimental results show that operating variables such as time and pH of absorbent solution are found to remarkably influence the removal process efficiency. Based on experimental results ozonation can improve ammonia removal efficiency through the hollow fiber membrane contactor. Ammonia removal efficiencies and overall mass transfer coefficients increase with decreasing pH of absorbent solution. Keywords: ammonia, mass transfer, membrane, ozonation, removal efficiencyAbstrak Amonia di dalam air limbah merupakan polutan utama yang berasal dari air limbah industri dan pertanian. Amonia kebanyak disisihkan dengan teknologi konvensional seperti aerasi di menara isian, pengolahan secara biologi atau penyerapan sebagai ion amonium pada zeolit. Dalam banyak hal, metode konvensional sangat mahal dan kurang efisien, sehingga diperlukan teknik separasi alternatif untuk proses penyisihan amonia dari air limbah yang lebih efisien. Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk menyelidiki kinerja kombinasi proses ozonasi dan proses absorbsi melalui membran untuk menyisihkan amonia dari air limbah menggunakan absorben berbahan dasar air dari sumber air panas. Hasil eksperimen memperlihatkan bahwa variabel operasi, seperti waktu dan pH larutan penyerap, sangat mempengaruhi efisiensi proses penyisihan amonia. Berdasarkan hasil eksperimen, ozonasi dapat meningkatkan efisiensi penyisihan ammonia melalui kontaktor membran serat berlubang. Efisiensi penyisihan amonia dan koefisien perpindahan massa keseluruhan naik dengan turunnya pH larutan penyerap.Kata kunci: amonia, perpindahan massa, membran, ozonasi, efisiensi penyisihan
Sintesis dan karakterisasi polimer superabsorban dari akrilamida
Authors: Abidin A. Zainal , Susanto G , Sastra N.M.T. , Puspasari T
Published: March 2020

Synthesis and Characterization of Superabsorbent from Acrylamide Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a material that can absorb water in a large amount in a short time. In this research, the polymer has been synthesized from acrylamide monomer (Am) using N,N methylene bisacrylamide (MBA)as a cross-linker and ammonium persulphate (APS) as an initiator. Effects of MBA and APS on the SAP characteristic were studied by varying composition of MBA and APS each of 0.1%-wt, 0.2 %-wt, 0.6 %-wt and 1.0 %-wt. SAP was characterized by measuring its absorption capacity to distilled water. Based on the experiment, the highest absorption capacity for 1 gram SAP is 14.5 gram water. The highest absorption is produced by SAP with APS 0.2 %-wt and MBA 0.6 %-wt. Further studies by using SEM showed that SAP which had high absorption capacity contained a lot of pores with the waving surface. Therefore, the surface contact area between SAP and water is high. Keywords: acrylamide, absorption capacity, superabsorbent polymerAbstrakSuperabsorbent Polymer (SAP) merupakan polimer yang dapat menyerap air dalam jumlah yang sangat banyak. Dalam penelitian ini, polimer tersebut disintesis dari monomer akrilamida menggunakan crosslinker N,N-metilene bisakrilamide (MBA) dan inisiator amonium persulfat (APS). Pengaruh crosslinker dan inisiator terhadap karakteristik SAP dipelajari dengan melakukan variasi komposisi APS dan (MBA) masing-masing sebesar 0,1 %-b, 0,2 %-b, 0,6 %-b, dan 1 %-b. Karakteristik produk SAP dipelajari dengan FTIR untuk menganalisis gugus fungsi yang terbentuk untuk menunjukkan bahwa polimerisasi betul terjadi dan produknya berupa SAP. Pengukuran kemampuan absorpsi SAP terhadap air destilasi menunjukkan bahwa kapasitas absorpsi terbesar yang dihasilkan oleh superabsorbent polymer dari penelitian ini sebesar 14,5 gram air dalam 1 gram produk SAP yang dibuat. Kapasitas terbesar ini dimiliki oleh SAP dengan 0,2 %-b APS dan 0,6 %-b MBA. Studi lebih lanjut dengan SEM menunjukkan bahwa SAP yang memiliki kapasitas absorpsi tertinggi itu mempunyai morfologi permukaan yang berombak dan jumlah pori yang tertinggi sehingga luas permukaan kontak antara SAP dan air juga tertinggi. Kata kunci: akrilamida, kapasitas absorpsi, superabsorbent polymer
Pemanfaatan kulit singkong sebagai bahan baku pembuatan Natrium Karbosimetil Selulosa
Authors: Santoso Shella Permatasari , Sanjaya Niko , Ayucitra Aning
Published: March 2020

The use of cassava peels as raw material for Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose productionCassava peels are abundantly available and may be used as an lowcost cellulose source (80-85% cellulose per weight cassava peel). the study was to evaluate the effect of the concentration of sodium hydroxide, sodium chloroacetate, and temperature reaction on the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (sodium-CMC) characteristics i.e. yield, purity, and degree of substitution in sodium-CMC preparation.  Sodium-CMC functional group was determined using FTIR spectrophotometer. Cassava peels was dried and grounded to 50 mesh. Lignin was eliminated from cassava peel by extraction of grounded cassava peel with 10% NaOH at 35 °C for 5 h. Cassava peel free lignin was then re-extracted using 10% of acetic acid and sodium chloride at 75 °C for 1 h, thus cellulose free hemicellulose was obtained. Alkalization at 30 °C for 90 min was performed by adding sodium hydroxyde at 10-40% to cellulose using isopropyl alcohol solvent. Following this, etherification was conducted by adding sodium chloroacetate of 1-5 g at 50-80 °C for 6 h. As result, the highest purity of sodium-CMC (96.20%) was obtained from alkalization using 20% of sodium hydroxide and etherification using 3 g sodium chloroacetate at 70 °C. Sodium-CMC yield was 22% and degree of substitution 0.705.Keywords: cassava peel, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium-CMC, etherification AbstrakKulit singkong merupakan sumber selulosa yang berlimpah dan murah, dengan kadar selulosa 80-85% dari berat kulit singkong. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah memanfaatkan selulosa dalam kulit singkong sebagai bahan baku pembuatan natrium karboksimetil selulosa (Na-CMC), mempelajari pengaruh natrium hidroksida, natrium kloroasetat serta suhu pada karakteristik Na-CMC seperti perolehan, kemurnian, dan derajat substitusi, serta menentukan kondisi operasi optimum untuk pembuatan Na-CMC berdasarkan kemurnian Na-CMC terbesar. Gugus fungsi Na-CMC ditentukan menggunakan Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra. Mula-mula, kulit singkong dikeringkan dan dihancurkan sehingga berukuran 50 mesh. Kulit singkong diekstraksi dengan NaOH 10% di suhu 35 °C selama 5 jam, untuk melarutkan lignin. Kulit singkong bebas lignin diekstrak dengan asam asetat 10% dan natrium klorida dengan pemanasan 750 °C selama 1 jam untuk melarutkan hemiselulosa sehingga didapatkan selulosa. Alkalisasi dilakukan dengan mereaksikan selulosa dengan NaOH 10-40% dengan pelarut isopropil alkohol pada suhu 30 °C selama 90 menit, dilanjutkan eterifikasi dengan natrium kloroasetat 1-5 g pada suhu 50-80 °C selama 6 jam. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, karakteristik Na-CMC terbaik didapatkan dari alkalisasi selulosa menggunakan NaOH 20% serta eterifikasi menggunakan 3 g natrium kloroasetat pada suhu 70 °C. Perolehan Na-CMC yang didapat adalah sebesar 22%, kemurnian 96,20%, derajat substitusi 0,705; termasuk dalam grade kedua menurut SNI 06-3736-1995.Kata kunci: kulit singkong, karboksimetil selulosa, Na-CMC, eterifikasi
Desain proses pengeringan semprot untuk produksi tepung karet alam dari lateks
Authors: Abidin A. Zainal , Vachlepi Afrizal
Published: March 2020

Spray drying process design for the production of natural rubber powder from latexHigh water content in latex may result in perishable condition, high transportation costs, large packing needs, and handling difficulty due to the use of ammonia to prevent its coagulation.  A solution to this problem is to convert the latex into rubber powder using spray drying.  This work describes the design of the rubber powder production process, feedstock formulation, and the design of the dryer. Spray dryer performance is evaluated by simulation. The production process involves latex collection, quality inspection, filtration, addition of additives, and spray drying. Feedstock formulation consists of fresh latex, 1 %-w anticoagulant, and 2 %-w non-stick agent. The drying chamber is designed with a latex feed rate of 6x10-5 m3/s, moisture content of 80 %-w, density of 920 kg/m3, feed temperature of 27 oC, and drying air temperature of 140 oC. A pressurized-type nozzle is selected for the dryer. Design calculation results indicate that the dryer requires a nozzle diameter of 3.5 mm, chamber volume of 0.8 m3, cylindrical section height of 850 mm, conical section height of 870 mm, and a chamber diameter of 1000 mm. Drying time is 0.134 sec, with an overall residence time of 1.80 second. The dryer is predicted to produce natural rubber powder with a moisture content of 0.32-0.56 %-w.Keywords: latex, design, spray drying, simulation AbstrakKandungan air yang tinggi di dalam lateks dapat mengakibatkan lateks mudah rusak, biaya transportasinya tinggi, kebutuhan kemasannya besar, dan penanganannya yang ketat karena lateks mengandung amonia sebagai bahan pencegah kerusakan. Salah satu cara mengatasinya adalah mengkonversi lateks tersebut menjadi tepung karet alam dengan teknologi pengeringan semprot (spray drying). Di sini akan dipaparkan perancangan proses produksi tepung tersebut, formulasi umpannya, dan pengering semprot (spray dryer) yang digunakan untuk mengeringkan lateks. Kinerja dari pengering semprot dievaluasi dengan teknik simulasi. Rancangan proses produksi dimulai dari pengumpulan lateks, pemeriksaan kualitas lateks, penyaringan, penambahan zat aditif, dan pengeringan semprot. Formulasi umpan terdiri dari lateks segar, antikoagulan 1%-b, dan antilengket 2 %-b. Ruang   pengering semprot dirancang berdasarkan laju alir umpan lateks 6x10-5 m3/s dengan kadar air 80 %-b, densitas 920 kg/m3, suhu umpan 27 °C, dan udara pengering 140 °C. Nozzle bertekanan dipilih untuk alat ini. Hasil desain menunjukkan bahwa pengering semprot memerlukan diameter lubang nozzle 3,5 mm,volume ruang pengering 0,8 m3, tinggi bagian silinder 850 mm, kerucut 870 mm, dan diameter 1000 mm. Waktu pengeringan umpan berlangsung selama 0,134 detik dengan waktu lintasan 1,80 detik. Hasil simulasi menunjukkan pengering semprot mampu menghasilkan tepung karet alam dengan kadar air sekitar 0,32-0,56%.Kata kunci: lateks, perancangan, pengeringan semprot, simulasi
An Analysis of 38 Pregnant Women With COVID-19, Their Newborn Infants, and Maternal-Fetal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: Maternal Coronavirus Infections and Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Schwartz David A.
Published: March 2020

The emergence of a novel coronavirus, termed SARS-CoV-2, and the potentially life-threatening respiratory disease that it can produce, COVID-19, has rapidly spread across the globe, creating a massive public health problem. Previous epidemics of many emerging viral infections have typically resulted in poor obstetric outcomes including maternal morbidity and mortality, maternal-fetal transmission of the virus, and perinatal infections and death. This article reviews the effects of 2 previous coronavirus infections—severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) caused by MERS-CoV—on pregnancy outcomes. In addition, it analyzes literature describing 38 pregnant women with COVID-19 and their newborns in China to assess the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the mothers and infants, including clinical, laboratory, and virologic data, and the transmissibility of the virus from mother to fetus. This analysis reveals that unlike coronavirus infections of pregnant women caused by SARS and MERS, in these 38 pregnant women COVID-19 did not lead to maternal deaths. Importantly, and similar to pregnancies with SARS and MERS, there were no confirmed cases of intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mothers with COVID-19 to their fetuses. All neonatal specimens tested, including placentas in some cases, were negative by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. At this point in the global pandemic of COVID-19 infection there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 undergoes intrauterine or transplacental transmission from infected pregnant women to their fetuses. Analysis of additional cases is necessary to determine if this remains true.
La autonomía de la migración: Una perspectiva alternativa sobre la movilidad humana y los controles migratorios
Authors: Casas-Cortés Maribel , Cobarrubias Sebastián
Published: March 2020

Las migraciones y los controles migratorios se han convertido en objeto de máximo interés académico, institucional y mediático. Además de los enfoques convencionales sobre la movilidad humana y su gestión, han surgido interpretaciones alternativas con repercusiones epistemológicas, metodológicas y políticas. Este artículo se centra en la emergencia de la escuela de pensamiento llamada “la Autonomía de la Migración”. A través del análisis de las obras de varios autores y proyectos (algunos cartográficos), que se han ido consolidando como referentes de esta tradición política, teórica y metodológica, identificamos una serie de conceptos clave y realizamos una genealogía de dicha escuela de pensamiento, dando a conocer los múltiples contextos donde surge y se difunde entre varias disciplinas e iniciativas activistas, incluyendo algunas de las reacciones críticas a sus posibles limitaciones. Abordamos algunas de sus consecuencias metodológicas a través de un ejemplo empírico.Migration movements and migratory controls are becoming a hot topic within academia, governmental institutions and media circles. Beyond conventional approaches to human mobility and its management, alternative interpretations are surfacing with important epistemological, methodological and political repercussions. This piece focuses on the emergent school of thought known as “Autonomy of Migration”. By engaging the textual production and projects (including cartographies) of key authors and collectives of this tradition, we identify central concepts of this political, theoretical and methodological school of thought. We also trace a genealogy of this tradition, pointing to the different historical contexts from which it emerged and expanded to several scholarly fields and activist initiatives, including some of the critical reactions to its possible limitations. This article includes a brief discussion on its methodological underpinnings through an empirical case.
Virtual Reality
Authors: Frost Megan , Goates Michael C , Cheng Sarah , Johnston Jed
Published: March 2020

We conducted a survey to inform the expansion of a Virtual Reality (VR) service in our library. The survey assessed user experience, demographics, academic interests in VR, and methods of discovery. Currently our institution offers one HTC Vive VR system that can be reserved and used by patrons within the library, but we would like to expand the service to meet the interests and needs of our patrons. We found use among all measured demographics and sufficient patron interest for us to justify expansion of our current services. The data resulting from this survey and the subsequent focus groups can be used to inform other academic libraries exploring or developing similar VR services.
Freedom’s Journal
Authors: Stave Emma
Published: March 2020

This article examines the first newspaper operated, published, and distributed by free blacks in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century, Freedom’s Journal.  Despite being active for merely two years, the New York-based periodical managed to unite African Americans across different states by becoming their mouthpiece. The first part of the article examines well-established historical facts including information about the editors, the readership, and the methods of distribution. The second part examines changes brought to the journalistic field by African Americans, while part three analyzes excerpts from a debate between proponents of the colonization movement, and their African American opponents. The final part discusses why the periodical ceased publishing, the importance of the method of distribution, and how the paper may have impacted subsequent black rights movements. Finally, an assessment is given as to how periodicals like Freedom’s Journal may influence the present and the future.
Storytelling and gamification as tools for teaching information literacy
Authors: Pudas Annamari , Örn Anitta
Published: March 2020

Welcome onboard. Your research vessel is waiting for you at the harbor. Your destination: Antarctica. Your goal: Save the world. Along the way you will encounter perilous waters and daring tasks. Sharpen your source criticism and find the right answers before it’s too late. This is Kylmä keikka - the Antarctic challenge.

Kylmä keikka edugame is developed in ESR project Poluttamo – Adaptable learning Paths. Our goal was to test how storytelling and gamification works in teaching information literacy. The focus of the learning content is in the source criticism and recognizing facts from fake news. Story connecting to climate change suited our purposes due to its controversial nature. The game was developed for the vocational school students, but it has also been tested in the higher education level.

At the current state, the game is still developing. It has been developed by using free tools and platforms. This allowed us to test the story and the game ideas. We are hoping that the game could be developed further for example adding more visual content to it and to make it truly an online multiplayer game. We believe that by bringing in the more advanced interactive aspect to the game, where players could communicate with each other and with the content or assignments online, it would improve the educational outcome. At he moment the game is available only in Finnish. An English version is estimated to be published in Spring 2020.
Financial Leverage and Dividend Policy: Evidence from Oil and Gas Firms in Nigeria
Authors: Chukwuebuka Orajekwe, Jerry , Okonkwo Okegbe, Theophilus
Published: March 2020

Aims: The study examined the relationship existing between financial leverage and the dividend policy of quoted oil and gas firms in Nigeria.

Study Design: The research work adopted for the study ex-post facto research design. Secondary data spanning 2011 to 2018 was sourced and collated from annual reports and accounts of oil and gas firms in Nigeria and Nigeria Stock Exchange factbook.

Place of Study: Department of Accountancy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Methodology: The data was analyzed employing descriptive statistics and the least square regression technique.

Results: The study revealed that a significant relationship exists between long term debt and dividend payout ratio; total debt and dividend payout ratio while no significant relationship exists between short term debt and dividend payout ratio of quoted oil and gas firms in Nigeria

Conclusion: Given the integral role the Oil and Gas sector plays in Nigeria, this paper showed the centrality of the capital structure and dividend policy in ensuring the stability of corporations in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry.
The Potential for Acupuncture to Attenuate Hippocampal Apoptosis
Authors: Marsheck Hana , Koh Yunsuk
Published: March 2020

Aims: To evaluate the potential for acupuncture to help mediate hippocampal apoptosis.

Study Design: Systematic Review.

Methodology: A search was conducted through PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science using the keywords “hippocampus,” “apoptosis” and “acupuncture” and found 37 qualified articles from January 2009 to March 2019.

Results: All of the qualifying studies reviewed strongly support that acupuncture decreases the incidence of hippocampal apoptosis.

Conclusion: It was clear that acupuncture can positively affect hippocampal apoptosis. The most frequently suggested mechanism was decreased BAX expression and increased BCL-2 expression, often in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, although it was only seen in about 1/3 of the studies reviewed. Future studies are needed to further investigate the exact mechanism associated with acupuncture in hippocampal apoptosis.
Manganese (Mn) and Lead (Pb) Content in Lemna Culture Fertilized by Bioslurry
Authors: . Iskandar , Andriani Yuli , Zidni Irfan
Published: March 2020

Lemna minor is a small water plant that floats on water and has the potential to be fresh feed for fish. Bioslurry is a by-product of the management of biogas from livestock manure which is often used as fertilizer for plants because it contains nutrients in a readily available form. Among the contents contained in bioslurry, manganese and lead are important things related to their use for plants and fish. This study aims to determine the mineral (Mn) and lead (Pb) content in the medium of lemna cultivation which is fertilized with various doses of bioslurry. The study was conducted at the Ciparanje Experimental Pond, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia. This study used an experimental method with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments with three replications. The treatment in the form of adding bioslurry to the lemna culture media was 0.00%, 0.25%, 1.00% and 2.50% of the volume of water. The minor density of Lemna used is 800 g/m2. The culture was carried out in 4 cycles for 7 days. The parameters observed were Mn and Pb content in the lemna culture medium shortly after the addition of Bioslurry and after 7 days of lemna cultivation. Based on the results of the study, the use of 2.5% bioslurry concentration can produce the highest Mn content with a range of 2.0-4.6 ppm and 2.92 ppm Pb content after 7 days of lemna cultivation. In addition, the use of 2.5% bioslurry concentration resulted in Mn and Pb values in the culture medium shortly after stirring bioslurry in the lemna culture media. Based on the research results, the treatment of adding 2.5% bioslurry to the lemna culture media is the best dose for produced Mn for fish, as well as the safest Pb for aquaculture activities.
Uptake of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) and Its Associated Factors among People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Kajiado County, Kenya
Authors: Tobiko Emmanuel Lemorijo , Waudo Judith N. , Kimani Harun
Published: March 2020

Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) involves use of isoniazid by People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) who have latent TB for a period not less than six months to prevent active TB infection. Despite the critical role of IPT in reducing HIV/TB co-infection related morbidity and deaths, not much has been done to examine why its full implementation has not been achieved and the probable solution. The objective of this study was to determine uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy and its associated factors among people living with HIV in Kajiado County, Kenya. Analytical Cross-sectional study was carried out in purposely selected four Hospitals. Two hundred and seventy two (272) study participants were recruited through systematic sampling with 100% response rate. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Cross tabulation, bivariate and multivariate analysis was carried out to identify factors influencing IPT uptake. The study found out that IPT uptake was at 72%. Logistic regression analysis, established the existence of a significant positive association (p-value=0.000, βii=1.729) between patient knowledge among PLHIV and IPT uptake. A correlation analysis outcome shows the existence of a significant positive relationship (r=0.332, sig. =0.000) between patients knowledge and having ever used IPT at 0.01 level in a two tailed. The 72% of IPT uptake was sufficient. Patient knowledge factors had the highest influence on IPT amongst PLWHIV. The role of health care givers and health centers as IPT information disseminators and IPT knowledge source respectively, was invaluable in this study.
Potentials of Starch Nanoparticles Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis) Coprecipitated with Iron (II, III) Oxide
Authors: Oladebeye Abraham Olasupo
Published: March 2020

Aim: The quest for unveiling the potentials of underutilized tropical starches as nanoparticle disintegrants in drug delivery system was the focus of this research work.

Place of Study: The analyses were carried out in the laboratory of Chemistry Department, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria.

Methodology: Native starch of jack bean (Cavanalia ensiformis) was impregnated with iron (II, III) oxide via co-precipitation method, using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. The native starch and iron oxide starch nanoparticles were evaluated for swelling properties, FTIR patterns, morphologies and XRD patterns.

Results: The swelling powers of the native starch and the magnetic starch nanoparticles were affected altered between pH 2 and 12. O–H stretching appeared at 3242 cm-1 and 3265.1 cm-1; C–H stretching at 2926.7 cm-1 and 2926.0 cm-1 and C–O stretching at 1077.2 cm-1 and 1077.2 cm-1 absorption bands for native starch and starch nanoparticles respectively. C–O–C stretching of glycosidic bonds was observed at 1148 cm-1 for both samples. The native starch had non-uniform shapes, appearing as a mix of oval, spherical and polygonal shapes while non-uniform rock-like granules with evidences of strata were obtained for starch nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction peaks of 24.04°, 18.32° and 33.95° 2θ were obtained for native starch while 24.00°, 18.24° and 57.36° 2θ for starch nanoparticles. The crystallinity indexes of the native starch and starch nanoparticles were 81.01% and 87.30% respectively. The same trend was obtained for their crystallite sizes.

Conclusion: The magnetic starch nanoparticles studied could be possible source of disintegrants for drug formulations and delivery. They could as well be applied in water treatment technology.
Screening of Actinomycetes from Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Rhizosphere for Antifungal Activity
Authors: Osaro-Matthew R. C. , Ire F. S. , Frank-Peterside N.
Published: March 2020

Aim: The present study was carried out to isolate actinomycetes from rhizospheric soil of Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale and evaluate their antifungal potential.

Methods: Actinomycetes were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of two Zingiberaceae plants (Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale), using four different culture media. Isolates were screened for antifungal activity using dual culture technique against two reference strains Colletotrichum coccodes (DSM 2492) and Alternaria pimpriana (DSM 62023). The most potent strain was identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence and the bioactive components of the strain were identified using GC-MS chromatography.

Results: Fifteen strains of actinomycetes were isolated, SCA (starch casein agar) was found best for cultivation of actinomycetes. The 15 strains were grouped into three genera Norcadia 8(54%), Streptomyces 5(33%) and Janibacter 2(13%) based on morphological, biochemical and physiological identification. Among the 15 isolates 6(40%) strains showed activity against either of the test organisms, while 1(6.7%) was active against the both test organisms. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences identified the potent isolates as Janibacter sp. strain RC18. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 20 compounds with 10 identified as potent antimicrobial metabolites.

Conclusion: This study has revealed that rhizosphere of ginger and turmeric harbours rare actinomycetes that are valuable tool for sustainable agriculture.
Overdose Administration of Thermostable Newcastle Disease Vaccines to Naïve Unvaccinated 6 Weeks Old Cockerels at NVRI, Vom Plateau state, Nigeria
Authors: Egbuji A. N. , Chukwuedo A. , Shedua L. N. , Gyallak J. K. , Swomen L. N. , Obene N. C. , Akachi U. K. , Ngwu H. C. , Idahor K. O. , Muhammad M. , Enurah L. U.
Published: March 2020

One hundred and fifty (150) unvaccinated 6 weeks old cockerel were divided into six groups of 25 birds each. Pre-vaccination haemagglutination inhibition (HI) mean titers values of 21.4, <21, 21 <21   21 and 21.6 were observed for groups A, B, C, D E and F respectively. Two batches of Newcastle Disease vaccine (NDVI-2) of 50 and 200 doses produced at National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, with EID50 value of 7.7 and 7.6 per dose were administered to groups B and D at 10x (10 times the normal dose) of NDVI-2 via the intra-ocular and intranasal routes. The rest of the groups were administered normal doses of NDVI-2 through the intra-ocular route. Consequently, 40% of the vaccinated birds were randomly selected and sero-monitored twice at 2 and 4 weeks intervals.  No observable ND clinical signs were seen in both groups B and D irrespective of the vaccine over dosage. Post-vaccination (HI) immune profiling of the vaccinated flock revealed steady increase in the HI mean titer value per group, while groups B and D which had 10x the normal dose showed high response in comparison to groups that had NDVI-2 standard dose. HI immune profile results 2 weeks post-vaccination revealed HI mean titer values of 23.0, 24.0, 23.2 24.2 23.6 and 24.4 for groups A, B, C, D, E and F respectively; week 4 post-vaccination haemagglutination inhibition mean titer values of 23.6, 25.4, 23.0 25.7  25.2 and 24.0 for the respective groups. Week 8 HI mean titer values of 22.2, 21.8, 22.4 22.5 23.2 and   21.8 were equally observed. While week 12 HI mean titer values of 22.0, 21.8, 22.0 22.0 21.8 and 21.8 were recorded. Post-vaccination HI mean titer values showed that groups B and D with 10x the normal dose had no observable adverse clinical signs but rather high ND antibody response was observed in groups where overdose of standard NDVI-2 vaccine were administered and evidence of ND antibody depletion was equally observed in all the vaccinated groups irrespective of the dose administrated.
Tracing the evolution of fatty acid‐binding proteins (FABPs) in organisms with a heterogeneous fat distribution
Authors: Zhang Yuru , Zhang Junmei , Ren Yanhua , Lu Ronghua , Yang Liping , Nie Guoxing
Published: March 2020

The distribution of fat among both invertebrate and vertebrate groups is heterogeneous. Studies have shown that fatty acid‐binding proteins (FABPs), which mainly bind and transport fatty acids, play important roles in the regulation of fat storage and distribution. However, the systematic and genome‐wide investigation of FABP genes in organisms with a heterogeneous fat distribution remains in its infancy. The availability of the complete genomes of Caenorhabditis elegans, Callorhinchus milii, and other organisms with a heterogeneous fat distribution allowed us to systematically investigate the gene structure and phylogeny of FABP genes across a wide range of phyla. In this study, we analyzed the number, structure, chromosomal location, and phylogeny of FABP genes in 18 organisms from C. elegans to Homo sapiens. A total of 12 types of FABP genes were identified in the 18 species, and no single organism exhibited all 12 fatty acid‐binding genes (FABPs). The absence of a specific FABP gene in tissue may be related to the absence of fat storage in the corresponding tissue. The genomic loci of the FABP genes were diverse, and their gene structures varied. The results of the phylogenetic analysis and the observation of conserved gene synthesis of FABP family genes/proteins suggest that all FABP genes may have evolved from a common ancestor through tandem duplication. This study not only lays a strong theoretical foundation for the study of fat deposition in different organisms, but also provides a new perspective regarding metabolic disease prevention and control and the improvement of agricultural product quality.
Raman Optical Activity of Proteins
Authors: Fujisawa Tomotsumi
Published: March 2020

Raman optical activity
(
ROA
) spectroscopy measures a small difference of Raman scattering intensities between excitations with right‐ and left‐circularly polarized incident lights, or the difference between the right‐ and left‐circularly polarized Raman scattering intensities using unpolarized excitation. The ROA spectrum reflects the conformations of chiral molecules most sensitively, providing their detailed structural information in solution. The unique capability of ROA spectroscopy has been utilized to study the conformations of various molecules in solution phase. This article features the applications of ROA spectroscopy to the protein structure analyses. The ROA spectra are particularly sensitive to the secondary structures. Staring from the basic theory of ROA, the experimental setup, and the typical spectral properties of proteins, this article describes the recent applications of ROA to a variety of proteins, including intrinsically disordered protein and chromophoric proteins. Besides, the latest analyses of ROA spectra using advanced calculation methods, and the spectral simulation of oligopeptides, proteins, and protein complexes are also presented.
Set‐up error and dosimetric analysis of HexaPOD evo RT 6D couch combined with cone beam CT image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiotherapy for primary malignant tumor of the cervical spine
Authors: Jiang Ping , Zhang Xile , Wei Shuhua , Zhao Tiandi , Wang Junjie
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To investigate the set‐up error and consequent dosimetric change in HexaPOD evo RT 6D couch under image‐guided intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IG‐IMRT) for primary malignant tumor of the cervical spine.

Methods

Ten cases with primary malignant tumor of the cervical spine were treated with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in our hospital from August 2013 to November 2014. The X‐ray volumetric images (XVI) were scanned and obtained by cone‐beam CT (CBCT). The six directions (6D) of set‐up errors of translation and rotation were obtained by planned CT image registration. HexaPOD evo RT 6D couch made online correction of the set‐up error, and then the CBCT was conducted to obtain the residual error.

Results

We performed set‐up error and dosimetric analysis. First, for the set‐up error analysis, the average error in three translation directions of 6D set‐up error of the primary tumor of the cervical spine was <2 mm, whereas the single maximum error (absolute value) is 7.0 mm. Among average errors of rotation direction, Rotation X (RX) direction 0.67° ± 0.04°, Rotation Y (RY) direction 1.06° ± 0.06°, Rotation Z (RZ) direction 0.78° ± 0.05°; and the single maximum error in three rotation directions were 2.8°, 3.8°, and 2.9°, respectively. On three directions (X, Y, Z axis), the extended distance from clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) was 3.45, 3.17, and 3.90 mm by calculating, respectively. Then, for the dosimetric analysis, the parameters, including plan sum PTV D98 and D95, planning gross tumor volume D98 and D95, V100% of the plan sum were significantly lower than the treatment plan. Moreover, Dmax of the spinal cord was significantly higher than the treatment plan.

Conclusion

6D set‐up error correction system should be used for accurate position calibration of precise radiotherapy for patients with malignant tumor of the cervical spine.
Foot and Leg Muscle Weakness in People With Midfoot Osteoarthritis
Authors: Arnold John B. , Halstead Jill , Grainger Andrew J. , Keenan Anne‐Maree , Hill Catherine L. , Redmond Anthony C.
Published: March 2020

Objective

To compare foot and leg muscle strength in people with symptomatic midfoot osteoarthritis (OA) with asymptomatic controls, and to determine the association between muscle strength, foot pain, and disability.

Methods

Participants with symptomatic midfoot OA and asymptomatic controls were recruited for this cross‐sectional study from general practices and community health clinics. The maximum isometric muscle strength of the ankle plantarflexors, dorsiflexors, invertors and evertors, and the hallux and lesser toe plantarflexors was measured using hand‐held dynamometry. Self‐reported foot pain and foot‐related disability were assessed with the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index. Differences in muscle strength were compared between groups. Multivariable regression was used to determine the association between muscle strength, foot pain, and disability after adjusting for covariates.

Results

People with midfoot OA (n = 52) exhibited strength deficits in all muscle groups, ranging from 19% (dorsiflexors) to 30% (invertors) relative to the control group (n = 36), with effect sizes of 0.6–1.1 (P < 0.001). In those with midfoot OA, ankle invertor muscle strength was negatively and independently associated with foot pain (β = –0.026 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) –0.051, –0.001]; P = 0.045). Invertor muscle strength was negatively associated with foot‐related disability, although not after adjustment for depressive symptoms (β = –0.023 [95% CI –0.063, 0.017]; P = 0.250).

Conclusion

People with symptomatic midfoot OA demonstrate weakness in the foot and leg muscles compared to asymptomatic controls. Preliminary indications from this study suggest that strengthening of the foot and leg muscles may offer potential to reduce pain and improve function in people with midfoot OA.
Association of Rural Setting With Poorer Disease Outcomes for Patients With Rheumatic Diseases: Results From a Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Hollick Rosemary J. , Macfarlane Gary J.
Published: March 2020

Objective

To assess whether clinical and patient‐reported outcomes are poorer for individuals with inflammatory and noninflammatory rheumatic diseases living in rural locations.

Methods

We searched 6 databases for articles that reported on primary peer‐reviewed research, published in English between 1990 and 2019, that focused on selected rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis [RA], psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, or osteoarthritis [OA]) and quantified either patient‐reported or clinically measured outcomes by a measure of rurality or remoteness. Selected articles were synthesized narratively.

Results

Eight eligible publications, including 753 rural and 929 urban patients, evaluated outcomes in RA (5 studies) and OA (3 studies). Studies were small, single center, and rarely provided a definition of rurality. Aspects relating to rurality, such as access to services, were not measured. In RA, some studies suggested greater functional disability and disease activity in rural dwellers. In OA, there was some evidence to suggest that rural dwellers presented with more advanced degenerative hip changes, and that illness perceptions and coping differed between rural and urban dwellers. No studies examined work outcomes. Potentially important confounding factors such as socioeconomic status were rarely considered.

Conclusion

There remains considerable uncertainty whether outcomes differ for patients with rheumatic disease in rural settings. There is a need for larger scale studies characterizing participants in relation to place of residence in order to determine whether rurality is an independent predictor of outcome or a surrogate marker for socioeconomic factors.
Modified Disease Activity Score at 3 Months Is a Significant Predictor for Rapid Radiographic Progression at 12 Months Compared With Other Measures in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Movahedi Mohammad , Weber Deborah , Akhavan Pooneh , Keystone Edward C.
Published: March 2020

Objective

Progressive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is responsible for joint damage causing disabilities, but there is no agreement on which disease measures best predict radiographic progression. We aimed to determine which disease activity measures, including the disease activity score, the modified disease activity score in 28 joints with C‐reactive protein testing (M‐DAS28‐CRP), the Clinical Disease Activity Index, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, at baseline and 3 months best predicted rapid radiographic progression (RRP) in patients with early RA.

Methods

Data were used from PREMIER, a 2‐year, multicenter, double‐blind, active comparator controlled study with methotrexate (MTX)–naïve patients with RA and active disease for less than 3 years. Treatments included adalimumab plus oral MTX, adalimumab, or oral MTX. Only patients in the MTX arm were analyzed in this study. RRP was defined as a change in the modified total Sharp score of less than 3.5 at month 12. The logistic regression analysis assessed the impact of measures at baseline and 3 months on RRP at 12 months. Best cutoff points of the M‐DAS28‐CRP were also estimated by using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

A total of 149 patients were included (female patients: n = 113 [75.8%]; positive rheumatoid factor: n = 127 [85.2%]; mean [SD] age: 52.9 [13.3] years; mean [SD] disease duration: 0.8 [0.9] year; mean [SD] M‐DAS28‐CRP: 6.3 [0.9]). After adjusting for potential confounders, only the M‐DAS28‐CRP at baseline (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.70‐6.36) and 3 months (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.43‐4.56) strongly predicted RRP at 12 months. M‐DAS28‐CRP of 4.5 and 2.6 at baseline and 3 months, respectively, maximized positive and negative predictive values for prediction of RRP.

Conclusion

The M‐DAS28‐CRP was a stronger predictor at baseline and 3 months for RRP compared with other disease activity measures. Removing tender joint count and patient global assessment from the DAS28‐CRP improves prediction of RRP.
What does $8 billion for coronavirus say about opioid funding?
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2020

Last week, Congress gave $8 billion to the fight against coronavirus, seemingly overnight. Certainly, compared to the extra $2 billion a year for addressing the opioid epidemic, the money came much faster. It took years for the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis (STR) grant to be included, as it was in the Cures Act passed by Congress in 2016 and signed into law by President Obama in December of that year. The State Opioid Response (SOR) grants continue. How did the coronavirus $8 billion — $6 billion more than the White House had asked for — materialize so quickly? We asked two Capitol Hill experts.
Transitioning SOR to the SAPT BG: Why not?
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2020

It's time to think about transitioning the State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grant, Robert Morrison, executive director of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), told the House Energy and Commerce Committee at its March 3 hearing on opioid legislation. The STR and SOR grants went directly to single state authorities (SSAs) in charge of the SAPT block grants — NASADAD members — so this makes perfect sense. These are the officials who best know how funding should be spent in their states — on what substances, including alcohol. Instead of having a designated amount set up for opioids — although that was expanded to include stimulants as well (see “FY 2020 Appropriations: Stimulants added to SOR's $1.5 billion,” ADAW, Dec. 23, 2019, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32573) — each SSA should just have this funding added permanently to the block grant.
Unveiling the Effects of Hydrolysis‐Derived DMAI/DMAPbIx Intermediate Compound on the Performance of CsPbI3 Solar Cells
Authors: Bian Hui , Wang Haoran , Li Zhizai , Zhou Faguang , Xu Youkui , Zhang Hong , Wang Qian , Ding Liming , Liu Shengzhong (Frank) , Jin Zhiwen
Published: March 2020

Introducing hydroiodic acid (HI) as a hydrolysis‐derived precursor of the intermediate compounds has become an increasingly important issue for fabricating high quality and stable CsPbI3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the materials composition of the intermediate compounds and their effects on the device performance remain unclear. Here, a series of high‐quality intermediate compounds are prepared and it is shown that they consist of DMAI/DMAPbIx. Further characterization of the products show that the main component of this system is still CsPbI3. Most of the dimethylammonium (DMA+) organic component is lost during annealing. Only an ultrasmall amount of DMA+ is doped into the CsPbI3 and its structure is stabilized. Meanwhile, excessive DMA+ forms Lewis acid–base adducts and interactions with Pb2+ on the CsPbI3 surface. This process passivates the CsPbI3 film and decreases the recombination rate. Finally, CsPbI3 film is fabricated with high crystalline, uniform morphology, and excellent stability. Its corresponding PSC exhibits stable property and improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 17.3%.
Ion Exchange/Insertion Reactions for Fabrication of Efficient Methylammonium Tin Iodide Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Pengcheng , Li Fengzhu , Jiang Ke‐Jian , Zhang Yanyan , Fan Haochen , Zhang Yue , Miao Yu , Huang Jin‐Hua , Gao Caiyan , Zhou Xueqin , Wang Fuyi , Yang Lian‐Ming , Zhan Chuanlang , Song YanLin
Published: March 2020

The low toxicity, narrow bandgaps, and high charge‐carrier mobilities make tin perovskites the most promising light absorbers for low‐cost perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the development of the Sn‐based PSCs is seriously hampered by the critical issues of poor stability and low power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to the facile oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ and poor film formability of the perovskite films. Herein, a synthetic strategy is developed for the fabrication of methylammonium tin iodide (MASnI3) film via ion exchange/insertion reactions between solid‐state SnF2 and gaseous methylammonium iodide. In this way, the nucleation and crystallization of MASnI3 can be well controlled, and a highly uniform pinhole‐free MASnI3 perovskite film is obtained. More importantly, the detrimental oxidation can be effectively suppressed in the resulting MASnI3 film due to the presence of a large amount of remaining SnF2. This high‐quality perovskite film enables the realization of a PCE of 7.78%, which is among the highest values reported for the MASnI3‐based solar cells. Moreover, the MASnI3 solar cells exhibit high reproducibility and good stability. This method provides new opportunities for the fabrication of low‐cost and lead‐free tin‐based halide perovskite solar cells.
Maize nitrogen use efficiency improved due to density tolerance increase since the 1950s
Authors: Ma Daling , Yu Xiaofang , Ming Bo , Li Shaokun , Xie Ruizhi , Gao Julin
Published: March 2020

Meeting maize (Zea mays L.) production targets of high grain yields and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) requires the development of stress‐tolerant cultivars and corresponding cultivation practices that maximize efficiency. Therefore, our objectives were to (i) determine the impacts of N application rate, planting density, and maize cultivar (which have improved with each successive release date) on the N partial productivity factor (PFPN) and N agronomic efficiency (AEN), and to (ii) characterize the responses of maize cultivars indexes to different cultivation conditions. We found that maize PFPN and AEN values were affected by N application, planting density, and cultivar. The PFPN and AEN declined with increasing N but increased with increasing planting density or genetic improvement (i.e. later year of release). The responses of PFPN and AEN to planting density and N application, taken either as single factors or as interacting factors, were greater for recently released cultivars than for older cultivars. The PFPN and AEN values were not automatically associated with maize yields, indicating that the genetic improvements that led to increases in PFPN and AEN were due to unconscious selection. Thus, improvements in NUE resulted from improvements in cultivars’ tolerance to planting density stresses and from cultivation practices that employed higher planting densities from the 1950s to 2010.