bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organización de un Equipo de Convivencia Escolar: Barreras Macro, Meso y Micro Sistémicas
Authors:   Universidad Austral de Chile, Lamas-Aicón Macarena , Carrasco-Aguilar Claudia ,   Universidad de Playa Ancha, Morales Macarena ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile)
Published: June 2022

Este estudio se abocó a analizar la organización de un equipo multidisciplinario a cargo de la gestión de la política de convivencia escolar, en un liceo municipal de emplazamiento urbano en la ciudad de Valdivia, Chile. Se pregunta por su historia de conformación, así como por las barreras observadas en el proceso de organización e implementación de la política de convivencia escolar. Para responder estas preguntas se realizó un estudio de caso cualitativo, cuyas principales herramientas fueron 3 encuentros de taller participativo con el equipo, 4 entrevistas individuales semiestructuradas a otros actores educativos y una entrevista grupal con 3 integrantes del centro de estudiantes. La información fue sometida a análisis de contenido. Los resultados muestran la necesidad de validación para la organización interna de un emergente equipo de convivencia, en medio de tensiones y contradicciones provenientes de los niveles macro, meso y microsistémico. Los conflictos inherentes a la vida de las escuelas se manifiestan en forma de tensiones entre el orden, funcionamiento y organización del quehacer educativo del centro y los fundamentos emergentes que el equipo intenta convenir para guiar la acción, todo ello en un marco de interacciones mediadas por el ejercicio de poder.
How Enhance the Role of Managers Use Transformational Leadership Practices
Authors: Rashid Amal Ghalib
Published: June 2022

The major objective of this current paper is transformational leadership in the context of other leadership styles and its importance in corporate practice. The theoretical part defines the concept of leadership and its relationship of management, describes the key theories of leadership that have gradually emerged in history, and later focuses on transformational leadership as the most effective of these styles. Based on the results of the research on selected banks in Iraq, we recommend to its managers specific training of transformation leadership, which can lead to an increase in the performance of subordinates. The manager should be interested in how things are seen by the subordinate, even if he does not always decide. Employees should be directly encouraged to comment on the issues. This will make them feel needed and increase their satisfaction. Increase the theoretical knowledge of managers in the field of transformation leadership and its relation to the performance of subordinates. Managers should understand the concept of transformational leadership and its importance.
The Extent to which Neural Networks are Used in Choosing the Appropriate Cost for Decision-making
Authors: Agrab Asaad Sasaa
Published: June 2022

Objective study to use neural networks to verify the effectiveness of operational decision-making based on appropriate cost information. So the procedures: Validating the research hypotheses through the applied study in the National Chemical Industries Company in Iraq, which proved that the appropriate costs for the unit of the product in it do not support the operational decision-making in the National Chemical Industries Company in Iraq. And the results are the study found, through training the artificial neural network, to reject the statistical hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis, which states that the appropriate costs for the unit of the product support operational decision-making based on the use of the artificial neural network in the National Company for Chemical Industries in Iraq.
The Impact of Strategic Human Resources Tools on Enhancing Human Competencies - An Exploratory Study for a Sample of Workers in the Salah Al-Din Education Directorate
Authors: Hammad Dr. Ahmed Jadaan , Al-Mashhadani Dr. Roa Ahmed Ibrahim Hammadi , Naama Lina Tariq Ali
Published: June 2022

In a rapidly changing competitive environment, human resources are one of the important sources of competitive advantage. Human resources tools can contribute to achieving a sustainable competitive advantage by facilitating the development of competencies for the organization. Strategic human resources management tools are concerned with finding a link between the overall strategic objectives of the business and the human resources strategy. And implemented in order to enhance the competencies of employees in the organization. The current research aims to demonstrate the impact of strategic human resources tools (strategic map, human resources management card, dashboard) in enhancing human competencies (knowledge, relationship management, work intelligence, capacity assessment) in the Salah al-Din Education Directorate. It includes variables and dimensions, according to the exploratory curriculum in the Salah al-Din Education Directorate, then formulating research hypotheses and testing them using appropriate statistical methods and using the statistical package (SPSS) program. In general, the descriptive approach was adopted in explaining the theoretical and analytical frameworks to test and analyze the research hypotheses, while the study community consisted of workers in the Salah al-Din Education Directorate at the three administrative levels, and the sample size was (85) individuals. The research reached several conclusions, the most important of which was the significant effect of the strategic human resources tools (strategic map, human resources management card, dashboard) in enhancing human competencies in the Salah al-Din Education Directorate. In conclusion, the researcher recommended the necessity of identifying the appropriate tools for strategic human resource management, by relying on academic research regarding the impact of strategic human resource management practices on the efficiency of human resource management in the directorate.
The Role of the Accounting Profession in Controlling Environmental Pollution According to Requirements of Social Responsibility in Industrial Companies
Authors: Mousa Thaer Umran
Published: June 2022

Accounting as an information system is not only affected by the environment, but also affects it through its active role in making and implementing decisions, and this important role is achieved through information related to the environmental activities performed by the economic unit, and for the purpose of performing its mentioned role, it is necessary to strengthen accounting with procedures and treatments that can keep pace with the developments taking place. In the environment surrounding the economic unit, and be able to explain the economic phenomena that it performs, and this requires an effort from researchers and specialists in this field. Preparing the methodology is the first important step in the preparation of scientific research, through which the problem, its importance and the hypotheses on which it is based will be determined to reach the goal of the research, and then the methodology and sample of the research will be determined. In this aspect, the researcher relied on several means to obtain data and information related to the topic of research, which are laws, instructions and legislation related to environmental activity, financial statements and reports issued by the Federal Financial Supervision Bureau in Iraq, reports issued by the Oil Industry Company, personal interviews with employees, and the use of statistical methods in Calculation of pollution rates One of the results of the research is that industrial companies do not respond to performing their role in controlling pollution in an effective manner, unless there is a legal obligation that other industrial companies do the same work. Descriptively and financially, as well as the need for the organization to include pollution control within the structure of its objectives, and then the costs of pollution control should be included within the framework of its planning budget.
Study of Combustion Characteristics of Cables inside a Common Duct by Cone Calorimeter Test
Authors: Lee Sangyup , Min Sehong
Published: June 2022

The spacial characteristics of an underground common duct often lead to disasters resulting in great damage to life and property. In the case of a cable fire, additional damages such as failure of power and fire prevention equipment occur. Accordingly, to derive the risk factors of an underground common duct cable fire, a cone calorimeter test was performed in this study. The fire simulation factor was obtained by measuring temperature changes with time, while the heat release rate (which depends on the cable type) was determined by a combustion test of the subject. The test and measurements were conducted mainly for incombustible and general power and communication cables used in a common duct. According to the test, for a general power cable, the ignition time was measured to be 26 s with a maximum heat release rate of 187 kW/m2 for 190 s. For a flame resisting power cable, the ignition time was measured to be 20 s with a maximum heat release rate of 179 kW/m2 for 40 s. For a general communication cable, the ignition time was measured to be 20 s with a maximum heat release rate of 179 kW/m2 for 40 s. For a flame resisting power cable, the ignition time was measured to be 40 s with a maximum heat release rate of 154 kW/m2 for 100 s. The test results will be used as fire simulation factors in response to a fire originating from an underground common duct.
A Framework for Measuring Urban Vitality After COVID-19: Social-Ecological Resilience and Application
Authors: Eom Hyunjoo , Choi Hongseok , Cho Gi-Hyoug
Published: June 2022

Urban vitality is the quality and the intensity of human activity within the urban space that represents the liveliness and the energy of cities. The spread of COVID-19 and the enforcement of social distancing policies have drastically reduced urban human activities and impacted the local economy, which has brought attention to the concept of urban resilience against COVID-19. Urban resilience can be understood as the capacity of a city’s systems to endure a crisis, minimize the impact of a crisis, and recover to a normal state from a crisis. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively assess the levels of resilience of communities in Seoul, South Korea, using the social-ecological resilience model and the resistance-recovery ratio. The proposed framework for measuring resilience identifies the communities' capacity to resist the crisis, recover, and adapt to the recovered state, which provides a comprehensive understanding of urban resilience after COVID-19.
Recent Progress in 1D Nanostructures Reinforced Carbon/Carbon Composites
Authors: Yin Xuemin , Han Liyuan , Liu Huimin , Li Ni , Song Qiang , Fu Qiangang , Zhang Yulei , Li Hejun
Published: June 2022

Carbon fiber reinforced carbon matrix (carbon/carbon, C/C) composites have become the promising candidates for high‐temperature thermal structure materials in aerospace fields, owning to a series of excellent structural merits. However, for aculeate or thin‐walled C/C composites, due to the fact that continuous carbon fibers are cut off during the machining process and the amount of residual carbon fibers is limited, carbon matrix cannot be effectively strengthened just by using carbon fibers, resulting in a sharp decline in mechanical performance. Furthermore, the rapid development of aerospace vehicles requires that C/C composites not only have excellent mechanical properties but also possess multifunctional properties. To effectively solve these problems and meet the increasing demands, various 1D nanostructures as nanoreinforcements have been introduced into C/C composites, achieving the great improvement in mechanical and functional properties. In this review, the state‐of‐the‐art research activities regarding different 1D nanoreinforcements applied in C/C composites are systematically summarized. Finally, this review is concluded and the future research prospects are proposed. This review provides the “1D nanoreinforcements” strategy to further improve the properties of C/C composites, which could be widely used for reference by researchers in the fields of different fiber/matrix composites.
Retirement is not associated with age‐related cognitive impairment in Korean adults
Authors: Hwang In C. , Ahn Hong Y. , Suh Heuy S.
Published: June 2022

Background

The literature provides conflicting evidence as to whether retirement may harm cognition. This study aimed to determine the relationship between retirement and cognitive impairment in Korean adults.

Methods

This study was performed using biennial data collected during the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing survey between 2006 and 2018. A total of 6363 adults aged 45 years or older with normal cognition were followed for up to 12 years. Linear regression, adjusted for potential covariates, was used to examine the association between retirement and cognitive impairment.

Results

Retirees composed 27.6% of participants were older, and had several cohort‐related features such as a lower education level and income. They were more likely to be single and to participate in religious activities, and had better healthy habits, but participated in fewer social activities and were more likely to have a depressive mood. Unadjusted models indicated that retirees were at higher risk of cognitive impairment, but this association became nonsignificant in age‐adjusted models. Multivariate regression analysis identified several risk factors associated with cognitive impairment, but these did not include retirement.

Conclusion

Retirement was not associated with cognitive impairment in Korean adults.
Perceived COVID‐19 health and job risks faced by digital platform drivers and measures in place to protect them: A qualitative study
Authors: MacEachen Ellen , Meyer Samantha B. , Majowicz Shannon , Hopwood Pamela , Crouch Meghan , Amoako Joyceline , Jahangir Yamin T. , Durant Steve , Ilic Antonela
Published: June 2022

Introduction

As they deliver food, packages, and people across cities, digital platform drivers (gig workers) are in a key position to become infected with COVID‐19 and transmit it to many others. The aim of this study is to identify perceived COVID‐19 exposure and job risks faced by workers and document the measures in place to protect their health, and how workers responded to these measures.

Methods

In 2020–2021, in‐depth interviews were conducted in Ontario, Canada, with 33 digital platform drivers and managers across nine platforms that delivered food, packages, or people. Interviews focused on perceived COVID‐19 risks and mitigation strategies. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and uploaded to NVivo software for coding by varied dual pairs of researchers. A Stakeholder Advisory Committee played an instrumental role in the study.

Results

As self‐employed workers were without the protection of employment and occupational health standards, platform workers absorbed most of the occupational risks related to COVID‐19. Despite safety measures (e.g., contactless delivery) and financial support for COVID‐19 illnesses introduced by platform companies, perceived COVID‐19 risks remained high because of platform‐related work pressures, including rating systems. We identify five key COVID‐19 related risks faced by the digital platform drivers.

Conclusion

We situate platform drivers within the broad context of precarious employment and recommend organizational‐ and government‐level interventions to prevent digital platform worker COVID‐19 risks and to assist workers ill with COVID‐19. Measures to protect the health of platform workers would benefit public health aims by reducing transmission by drivers to families, customers, and consequently, the greater population.
Application of the “Method Operable Design Region” (MODR) approach for the development of a UHPLC method for the assay and purity determination of risperidone in risperidone drug substance and other formulations
Authors: Pawar Amit , Pandita Nancy
Published: June 2022

To understand the role of analytics in drug development, regulatory bodies also started using the approach of Quality by Design (QbD) during analytical method developments. The present study deals with the development of the “Method Operable Design Region” for assay and purity determination of risperidone in risperidone drug substance and formulations usingy UHPLC. Five different column chemistries, five different pH buffers, oven temperatures from 25 to 45°C, and different organic modifier composition, column lengths and flow rates were studied and statistically evaluated using Fusion QbD software. The final method parameters were selected by performing multivariable changes in a single run and evaluated using the Monte Carlo simulation approach. The uniqueness of this method is that it is mass compatible, a total of 10 peaks are separated within a short run time of 12.0 min and it uses a “Platforming approach”, which means the use of a single method for testing the drug substance, different strengths of a drug product and different formulations. The same method can be also used for the determination of the preservative (benzoic acid) in risperidone 1 mg/ml oral solution. The use of the QbD approach is aligned with the US Pharmacopeia <1220>, BP supplementary chapter 2022 and the International Conference on Harmonization Q14 guidelines for life cycle management of analytical methods.
Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and their relationship to mental and physical illnesses in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia
Authors: AlHemyari Amena Hamood , Al‐Zamil Nada Adeeb , Shaikh Ahad Yasir , Al‐Eidi Dalal Abdulaziz , Al‐Dahlan Hussam Waleed , Al‐Shamekh Sumiyah Sulaiman
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are widely prevalent and interrelated. They affect multiple domains of health while having a dose–response effect. These effects are biologically plausible, where ACEs are found to be highly associated with physical and mental comorbidities.

Objectives

The study aimed to measure the magnitude of ACE and its relationship to mental and physical illnesses in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia by assessing its prevalence.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study that took place in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia in 2020.

Setting

It was applied to a population‐based, random adult sample from both genders, different educational levels and socioeconomic statuses.

Participants

Those who were 19 years old and above and living in the Eastern region were included. Everyone under the age of 19, those not currently living in the Eastern Region, and those who did not complete the questionnaire were excluded.

Results

The total sample size was 611 respondents, but after applying the exclusion criteria, 507 respondents were included. Most participants were females (65.1%). The mean age of the participants was 29.7 years, with a standard deviation of 11.2 years. Regarding educational level, 69.6% were college/university graduates. Most study respondents (81.8%) were exposed to four or more types of ACEs, with emotional neglect being the most common type (82.2%). Having four or more ACEs increases the risk of having physical illnesses compared to those with only one. Furthermore, female respondents who had four or more ACEs had the highest likelihood of having depressed mood (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0–1.07), stress (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.11–7.3), and insomnia (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.07).

Conclusion

Our study showed that in the Eastern Region, ACEs are highly prevalent and are associated with an increased risk of mental and physical illness.
Convection‐enhanced delivery with controlled catheter movement: A parametric finite element analysis
Authors: Mehta Jason N. , Rausch Manuel K. , Rylander Christopher G.
Published: June 2022

Convection‐enhanced delivery (CED) is an investigational method for delivering therapeutics directly to the brain for the treatment of glioblastoma. However, it has not become a common clinical therapy due to an inability of CED treatments to deliver therapeutics in a large enough tissue volume to fully saturate the target region. We have recently shown that the combination of controlled catheter movement and constant pressure infusions can be used to significantly increase volume dispersed (Vd) in an agarose gel brain tissue phantom. In the present study, we develop a computational model to predict Vd achieved by various retraction rates with both constant pressure and constant flow rate infusions. An increase in Vd is achieved with any movement rate, but increase in Vd between successive movement rates drops off at rates above 0.3–0.35 mm/min. Finally, we found that infusions with retraction result in a more even distribution in concentration level compared to the stationary catheter, suggesting a potential increased ability for moving catheters to have a therapeutic impact regardless of the required therapeutic concentration level.
New Insights on the Origin of Chemical Instabilities Between Poly(carbonate)‐based Polymer and Li‐containing Inorganic Materials
Authors: Meabe Leire , Zagórski Jakub , Mecerreyes David , Aguesse Frederic , LLordes Anna
Published: June 2022

Composite electrolytes, owing to their ability to combine both polymeric and ceramic properties are promising candidates for Solid‐State‐Batteries (SSBs). In this paper, we assess the effect of ceramic fillers (Li1+xAlxTi2‐xP3O12, Li6.55Ga0.15La3Zr2O12 and Al2O3) in a poly(ethylene oxide carbonate)‐LiTFSI matrix. First, the role of the filler chemistry on thermal and electrochemical properties is evaluated: reduced polymer crystallinity leads to an increased ionic conductivity at low temperatures; and the ionic conductivity at low temperatures (<30 °C) is improved for LLZO filler particles. This behaviour is commonly attributed to new conduction pathways generated within the fillers. However, we also demonstrate that a polymer degradation is induced by the filler chemistry by modifying the polymer chemistry in poly(ethylene glycol), initiated by LiOH that can be found on the LLZO surface. The electrolyte containing LATP or Al2O3 does not induce any degradation. Hence, special attention must be paid to surface impurities, as degradation may occur.
Revealing the Essential Role of Iron Phosphide and its Surface‐Evolved Species in the Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation by Gd‐Doped Hematite Photoanode
Authors: Chai Huan , Gao Lili , Jin Jun
Published: June 2022

Phosphates are easily derived from transition metal phosphides under natural conditions, and the real roles of these two in catalytic reactions are not yet clear. Here, a multiphase FeP/Gd−Fe2O3 shell‐core structure photoanode was constructed and explored regarding the real role of FeP and its surface‐reconstructed iron phosphate (Fe−Pi) in photoelectrochemical water oxidation. The FeP/Gd−Fe2O3 photoanode exhibited an excellent photocurrent density of 2.56 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, up to 4 times greater than those of the pristine α‐Fe2O3 (0.64 mA cm−2). Detailed studies showed that FeP could act as a photosensitizer to enhance light absorption and as a conductive layer to accelerate charge transfer. The FeP significantly enhanced the incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency of the photoanode and improved the electron transition within the photoanode. Naturally evolved Fe−Pi on the surface provided more active sites for water oxidation. They effectively passivated the surface capture state and synergistically inhibited the electron–hole recombination. Moreover, the in‐situ constructed multiphase catalyst had a smaller interfacial contact resistance than the intentionally decorative cocatalyst. This work provides new insight into the understanding of the essential role of transition metal phosphides and their surface‐reconstructed species in catalytic reactions.
Stereocontrolling Effect of a Single Triisopropylsilyl Group in 1,2‐cis‐Glucosylation
Authors: Abronina Polina I. , Malysheva Nelly N. , Zinin Alexander I. , Kolotyrkina Natalya G. , Kononov Leonid O.
Published: June 2022

Glycosylation with phenyl 3,4,6‐tri‐O‐benzoyl‐2‐O‐triisopropylsilyl (TIPS)‐1‐thio‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside is highly 1,2‐cis‐stereoselective, while the use of 2,3‐di‐O‐TIPS glucosyl donor with benzoyl groups at O‐4 and O‐6 results in the loss of α‐stereoselectivity (α/β=3 : 1). Complete α‐stereocontrol with 2‐O‐TIPS substituted glucosyl donors could only be achieved in glucosylation of weak nucleophiles. In this case, the glucosylation seems to proceed along the SN1‐like pathway via the 4H3 conformer of glycosyl cation stabilized by the bulky TIPS group at O‐2.
Pharmacological inactivation of the primate posterior insular/secondary somatosensory cortices attenuates thermal hyperalgesia
Authors: Nagasaka Kazuaki , Takashima Ichiro , Matsuda Keiji , Higo Noriyuki
Published: June 2022

Background

We previously established a macaque model of central post‐stroke pain (CPSP) and confirmed the involvement of increased activity of the posterior insular cortex (PIC) and secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) to somatosensory stimuli in mechanical allodynia by a combination of imaging techniques with local pharmacological inactivation. However, it is unclear whether the same intervention would be effective for thermal hyperalgesia. Therefore, using the macaque model, we examined behavioural responses to thermal stimuli following pharmacological inactivation of the PIC/SII.

Methods

Two CPSP model macaques were established based on collagenase‐induced unilateral hemorrhagic lesions in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus. To evaluate pain perception, withdrawal latencies to thermal stimuli of 37, 45, 50, 52, and 55 °C to hands were measured. Several weeks after the lesion induction, pharmacological inactivation of the PIC/SII by microinjection of muscimol was performed. The effect of inactivation on withdrawal latency was assessed by comparison with withdrawal latency after vehicle injection.

Results

Several weeks after induction of the thalamic lesions, both macaques demonstrated a reduction in withdrawal latencies to thermal stimulation (<50 °C) on the contralesional hand, indicating the occurrence of thermal hyperalgesia. When the PIC/SII were inactivated by muscimol, the withdrawal latencies to thermal stimuli of 50 and 52 °C were significantly increased compared to those after vehicle injection.

Conclusions

Our data emphasize that increased activity in the PIC/SII after appearance of thalamic lesions can contribute to abnormal pain of multiple modalities, and the modulation of PIC/SII activity may be a therapeutic approach for thermal hyperalgesia.

Significance

CPSP is caused by stroke lesions in the sensory system and characterized by mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia. Inactivation of the PIC/SII has an analgesic effect on mechanical allodynia; however, it is not clear whether the same intervention could reduce thermal hyperalgesia. Here, using the macaque model, we demonstrated that inactivation of these cortices reduces hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli. This result emphasizes that increased PIC/SII activity can contribute to abnormal pain of multiple modalities.
A Bayesian hierarchical model for improving measurement of 5mC and 5hmC levels: Toward revealing associations between phenotypes and methylation states
Authors: Jiang Lai , Greenlaw Keelin , Ciampi Antonio , Canty Angelo J. , Gross Jeffrey , Turecki Gustavo , Greenwood Celia M. T.
Published: June 2022

5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a methylation state linked with gene regulation, commonly found in cells of the central nervous system. 5hmC is associated with demethylation of cytosines from 5‐methylcytosine (5mC) to the unmethylated state. The presence of 5hmC can be inferred by a paired experiment involving bisulfite and oxidation‐bisulfite treatments on the same sample, followed by a methylation assay using a platform such as the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip (EPIC). Existing methods for analysis of the resulting EPIC data are not ideal. Most approaches ignore the correlation between the two experiments and any imprecision associated with DNA damage from the additional treatment. Estimates of 5mC/5hmC levels free from these limitations are desirable to reveal associations between methylation states and phenotypes. We propose a hierarchical Bayesian method called Constrained HYdroxy Methylation Estimation (CHYME) to simultaneously estimate 5mC/5hmC signals as well as any associations between these signals and covariates or phenotypes, while accounting for the potential impact of DNA damage and dependencies induced by the experimental design. Simulations show that CHYME has valid type 1 error and better power than a range of alternative methods, including the popular OxyBS method and linear models on transformed proportions. Other methods we examined suffer from hugely inflated type 1 error for inference on 5hmC proportions. We use CHYME to explore genome‐wide associations between 5mC/5hmC levels and cause of death in postmortem prefrontal cortex brain tissue samples. These analyses indicate that CHYME is a useful tool to reveal phenotypic associations with 5mC/5hmC levels.
Basement cross‐strike Bomdila Fault beneath Arunachal Himalaya: Deformation along curved thrust traces, seismicity, and implications in hydrocarbon prospect of the Gondwana sediments
Authors: Goswami Tapos Kumar , Kalita Pranjit , Mukherjee Soumyajit , Mahanta Bashab Nandan , Sarmah Ranjan Kumar , Laishram Ramesh , Saikia Hiruj , Gogoi Mousumi , Machahary Ratamali , Oza Bhaskar
Published: June 2022

Structural mapping and fieldwork in the Lesser and Higher Himalayan sequences in the western Arunachal Himalaya reveal crucial deformation fabrics in the Main Central Thrust (MCT) and Dirang Thrust (DT) zones. The top‐to‐SW ductile shear in the MCT and DT zones is correlated with the swing in the trend of MCT and DT from NE to NNW. The curved MCT and DT as traced by previous authors on the regional map of Arunachal Himalaya are studied. It is found that at places where these faults swing, shear senses developed at the meso‐scale. These shear senses are studied in meso‐ and micro‐scales. Seismicity in the western Arunachal Himalaya is influenced by basement cross‐strike crustal‐scale NW‐trending buried Bomdila Fault (BF). Landslides occur frequently along the Bhalukpong‐Bomdila–Sela traverse are also linked with the transverse BF. In its southern part, the BF coincides with the Dhansiri Lineament and is the basin margin fault in the upper Assam shelf. The Gondwana sediments extended further south below the Brahmaputra alluvium along the fault is to be explored for hydrocarbon exploration.
High cellulase‐free xylanases production by Moesziomyces aphidis using low‐cost carbon and nitrogen sources
Authors: Faria Nuno Torres , Marques Susana , Cerejo Joana , Vorobieva Ekaterina , Ferreira Frederico Castelo , Fonseca César
Published: June 2022

Background

Enzymes involved in xylan hydrolysis have several industrial applications. Selection of efficient microbial hosts and scalable bioreaction operations can lower enzyme production costs and contribute to their commercial deployment. This work aims at investigating the Moesziomyces aphidis yeast cultivation conditions that deliver maximal xylanase titres, yields and productivities using low‐cost nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) sources.

Results

NaNO3 and KNO3 supplementation improved xylanase production 2.9‐ and 2.7‐fold (against 67.2 U mL−1), respectively, using xylan as C source. Interestingly, the use of KNO3, instead of NaNO3, results in 2‐ to 3‐fold higher specific activity, highlighting the potassium ion role. In addition, this study investigates synergetic effects on using ionic and organic N sources. A 4.9‐fold increase in xylanase production, with high specific activity, is attained combining KNO3 and corn steep liquor (CSL). Exploring the previous findings, this study reports one of the highest extracellular xylanase production titres (864.7 U mL−1) by yeasts, using a media formulation containing dilute‐acid pre‐treated brewery spent grains (BSG), as C source and inducer, supplemented with KNO3 and CSL. Replacement of dilute‐acid pre‐treatmed BSG by untreated BSG had low impact on xylanase production, of only 6%.

Conclusion

Efficient production of M. aphidis xylanolytic enzymes, using low‐cost N and C sources, is attractive for deployment of on‐site enzyme production targeting different biotechnological applications under circular economy and biorefinery concepts. Potential xylanases end‐users include industries such as brewing (using BSG as substrate for enzyme production), pulp and paper (benefiting from the cellulase‐free xylanase activity) or lignocellulosic ethanol (for cellulase supplementation). © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum exosome‐derived carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 in HEV‐related acute liver failure patients
Authors: Xiang Ze , Jiang Bin , Li Wei , Zhai Guanghua , Zhou Hao , Wang Ying , Wu Jian
Published: June 2022

Early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation are of great significance to hepatitis E virus (HEV)‐related acute liver failure (HEV‐ALF) patients. We collected serum samples from 200 health controls (HCs), 200 patients with acute hepatitis E (AHE), and 200 HEV‐ALF patients to evaluate serum exosome‐derived carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1) levels and determine its diagnostic and prognostic value. The exosome‐derived CPS1 levels in the HEV‐ALF group were significantly higher than those in the AHE and HCs groups. The AUC of exosome‐derived CPS1 to predict the occurrence of HEV‐ALF was 0.850 (0.811−0.883). Both logistical regression and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA) showed that exosome‐derived CPS1 is an independent risk factor for HEV‐ALF. The exosome‐derived CPS1 levels were positively correlated with organ failure and the outcomes in HEV‐ALF patients. The exosome‐derived CPS1 levels in the worsening group were significantly higher than those in the fluctuating and the improving groups. The AUC of serum exosome‐derived CPS1 to predict 30‐day mortality was 0.829 (0.770−0.879), which was significantly greater than that of the Child‐Pugh, KCH, and MELD models. The level of serum exosome‐derived CPS1 might serve as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HEV‐ALF patients, which may provide better guidance for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of HEV‐ALF patients.
Molecular cloning, characterization, and homology modeling of serine hydroxymethyltransferase from psychrophilic bacterium Psychrobacter sp.
Authors: Wang Yifan , Wang Quanfu , Hou Yanhua , Wang Yatong
Published: June 2022

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) plays a significant role in the synthesis of l‐serine, purine, and thymidylate, which could be extensively applied in the treatment of cancers and the development of antibiotics. In this study, cloned from Psychrobacter sp. ANT206, a novel cold‐adapted SHMT gene (psshmt, 1257 bp) encoding a protein of 418 amino acids was expressed in Escherichia coli. The homology modeling result revealed that PsSHMT owned fewer Proline (Pro) residues and hydrogen bonds compared with its homologs from mesophilic E. coli and thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus. In addition, the molecular weight of the purified recombinant PsSHMT (rPsSHMT) was identified to be 45 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, approximately. The enzymatic characteristics of the cold‐adapted rPsSHMT displayed that its optimum temperature and pH were 30°C and 7.5, respectively, and its enzymatic activity could be inhibited by Cu2+, significantly. rPsSHMT also showed a high kcat value and low ΔG at low temperatures. Furthermore, arginine (Arg) could affect the activity of rPsSHMT and be vital to its active sites. The results of this study reflected that these characteristics of the cold‐adapted rPsSHMT made it a remarkable candidate that could be utilized in multiple industrial fields under low temperatures.
Projected climate change impacts on groundwater recharge in the Urucuia aquifer system, Brazil
Authors: Pereira Barbara Hanna Fernandes , Dereczynski Claudine , da Silva Junior Gerson Cardoso , Marques Eduardo Antonio Gomes
Published: June 2022

In this work we analyse the effects of climate change on the recharge and the groundwater flow of the Urucuia Aquifer System in western Bahia State, Brazil (UAS‐BA) in the period 2041–2060. We assessed possible changes and impacts on groundwater recharge with four climate models from the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6): ACCESS‐ESM1‐5, CanESM5, EC‐Earth3 and MIROC6, under scenarios SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5 (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways—SSP). Visual Balan 2.0 aquifer recharge assessment code, and the MODFLOW hydrogeological model were used to analyse the impact of future climate changes on the recharge. The projections of relative change in precipitation, under the SSP1‐2.6 scenario, show a precipitation reduction between 5% and 20%, using ACCESS‐ESM1‐5, CanESM5 and EC‐Earth3 models. Using SSP5‐8.5 scenario, these models behave differently, while the CanESM5 and EC‐Earth3 models indicate an even greater decrease in precipitation, with values up to 35%, the ACCESS‐ESM1‐5 projects an increase in precipitation of up to 25%. Using MIROC6, though, an increase of up to 10% in precipitation in the UAS‐BA is expected, under both scenarios. Regarding temperature, all the models agree with a warming in the future varying from 2 to 3°C. Recharge projections calculated using the Visual Balan 2.0 indicated in general a reduction between 8% and 43%. Using the MODFLOW model, the results show a reduction of recharge to the aquifer varying from 3% to 45% using CanESM5, EC‐Earth3 and MIROC6. The ACCESS‐ESM1‐5 has a 26% reduction (5% increase) under SSP1‐2.6 (SSP5‐8.5). Furthermore, projections indicate a downward trend in the water table in the northern portion of UAS‐BA, reaching a maximum drop of up to 12 m with the CanESM5, under SSP5‐8.5 scenario.
The 2014 severe drought over northeast China and its comparison with droughts over the southern regions: A perspective from synergic effects of water vapour and cold air
Authors: Yuan Dian , Hao Jiawei , Lu Er , Dai Wei , Gao Rong , Zhao Chunyu , Zhang Qiang , Zhao Haiyan
Published: June 2022

Northeast China (NEC) is an agricultural base of the country. It suffered a severe drought in 2014. During the drought, the western Pacific subtropical high is stronger than normal and stretches to the west. The warm and moist air in the southwest edge of the high transports northwestwards and thus cannot affect NEC. Over high latitudes, in the regions west and east to NEC, there are large anomalies in geopotential height, which favour meridional exchange and may lead to stronger‐than‐normal cold air intrusions. Because of the lack of warm and moist air supply from the south while the invasion of the cold and dry air from the north, the atmosphere over NEC is finally drier and colder than normal in saturation levels. Based on the physical relation between seasonal precipitation and relative humidity, along with the defined Cq and CT, indicators for measuring the changes in moisture and temperature, the effects of water vapour and air temperature on the drought can be linearly separated, and thus compared. Results reveal that, at middle and high levels, the dryness of the air, which plays a positive role in the drought, can offset the negative effect of the coldness, and the atmosphere over NEC then maintains a lower‐than‐normal relative humidity. In the near‐surface level, the air is drier and warmer than normal, which facilitates the drought.
Highly stretchable island‐structure metal oxide thin‐film transistor arrays using acrylic adhesive for deformable display applications
Authors: Miyakawa Masashi , Tsuji Hiroshi , Nakata Mitsuru
Published: June 2022

Stretchable electronics are a promising technology for introducing new styles of display applications and for realizing displays that can be adapted to various free shapes, such as domes and spheres, to suit various viewing styles. To fabricate a stretchable display, it is necessary to form thin‐film transistors (TFTs) and light‐emitting devices on stretchable substrates. We demonstrate high‐performance stretchable metal oxide TFT islands on polyimide film using an acrylic adhesive structure. We developed mass transfer technology for metal oxide island TFTs on a polyimide film to be transferred on a stretchable substrate in a batch and a device structure with a passivation layer that stabilizes device characteristics when the substrate is stretched. The TFT showed stable switching characteristics with a mobility of 30 cm2/Vs without any fluctuation, even when the substrate was stretched from 0% to 50% and released to 0%.
Fitted modifications of Runge–Kutta–Nyström pairs of orders 7(5) for addressing oscillatory problems
Authors: Kovalnogov Vladislav N. , Kornilova Maria I. , Khakhalev Yuri A. , Generalov Dmitry A. , Simos Theodore E. , Tsitouras Charalampos
Published: June 2022

Runge–Kutta–Nyström pair of orders 7(5) using six stages per step have been discovered very recently. Here we modify four of its weights. The resulting method integrates exactly the harmonic oscillator
, which serves as model problem. The new weights are
perturbations of the original ones. Order reduction which is usually present in such modifications is avoided. Numerical results over standard six stages pairs justify our efforts.
S‐Allylcysteine Potently Protects against PhIP‐Induced DNA Damage via Nrf2/AhR Signaling Pathway Modulation in Normal Human Colonic Mucosal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Lin Wei‐Sheng , Lai Ying‐Jang , Nagabhushanam Kalyanam , Ho Chi‐Tang , Pan Min‐Hsiung
Published: June 2022

Scope

This study aims to investigate whether S‐allylcysteine (SAC) exerts chemoprophylactic effects on foodborne carcinogenicity caused by 2‐amino‐1‐methyl‐6‐phenylimidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine (PhIP) in normal human colonic mucosal epithelial cells.

Methods and results

Cellular thermal shift assays show that SAC has an affinity for the Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (Keap1) protein. Moreover, SAC may also dampen the binding of Keap1 and NF‐E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) by inhibiting p‐p38 and increasing the phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (AKT), thereby inducing Nrf2/heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) signaling and upregulating the ratio of glutathione (GSH) to GSH/GSSG (oxidized glutathione), which inhibits PhIP‐induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. In addition, SAC significantly downregulates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling pathway, suggesting that SAC may potentially impede the metabolic transformation of carcinogens.

Conclusion

Collectively, these findings suggest that SAC protects against PhIP‐induced reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage by modulating the Nrf2/AhR signaling pathway, which may have significant potential as a novel chemopreventive agent.
Mathematical modeling of the lower urinary tract: A review
Authors: Jaskowak Daniel , Nunez Roberto , Ramachandran Rahul , Alhajjar Elie , Yin John , Guidoboni Giovanna , Danziger Zachary C.
Published: June 2022

Aims

Understand what progress has been made toward a functionally predictive lower urinary tract (LUT) model, identify knowledge gaps, and develop from them a path forward.

Methods

We surveyed prominent mathematical models of the basic LUT components (bladder, urethra, and their neural control) and categorized the common modeling strategies and theoretical assumptions associated with each component. Given that LUT function emerges from the interaction of these components, we emphasized attempts to model their connections, and highlighted unmodeled aspects of LUT function.

Results

There is currently no satisfactory model of the LUT in its entirety that can predict its function in response to disease, treatment, or other perturbations. In particular, there is a lack of physiologically based mathematical descriptions of the neural control of the LUT.

Conclusions

Based on our survey of the work to date, a potential path to a predictive LUT model is a modular effort in which models are initially built of individual tissue‐level components using methods that are extensible and interoperable, allowing them to be connected and tested in a common framework. A modular approach will allow the larger goal of a comprehensive LUT model to be in sight while keeping individual efforts manageable, ensure new models can straightforwardly build on prior research, respect potential interactions between components, and incentivize efforts to model absent components. Using a modular framework and developing models based on physiological principles, to create a functionally predictive model is a challenge that the field is ready to undertake.
Lessons from Brazil's unsuccessful fiscal decentralization policy to fight COVID‐19
Authors: Cardoso Ricardo Lopes , Azevedo Ricardo Rocha de , Pigatto José Alexandre Magrini , Fajardo Bernardo de Abreu Guelber , Cunha Armando Santos Moreira da
Published: June 2022

This manuscript investigates the unsuccessful case of the fiscal decentralization policy implemented by the Brazilian central government to help municipalities fight COVID‐19. Based on quantitative analyses of data available on governmental websites, we identified that the transfer policy had ignored municipalities' risk patterns and income changes. It benefited municipalities regardless of their vulnerability and population infection risks, and many municipalities reduced healthcare expenditures funded by their revenues during the pandemic. Hence, some municipalities made a “pandemic surplus” in 2020 – a municipal electoral year. Indeed, COVID‐19 killed 663,694 people in Brazil until 4 May 2022. Lessons from an unsuccessful case of response to COVID‐19 help develop resilience for other crises by emerging market economies and developing countries. The findings have implications for policymakers and literature since they represent inadequate vertical coordination that followed a path dependence on traditional decentralization policies and took place in a year of municipal elections without clear spending and accountability rules.
4‐3: Invited Paper: High Mobility Oxide Thin‐film Transistors for AMOLED Displays
Authors: Park Joon Seok , Lim Jun Hyung
Published: June 2022

The present report provides a brief overview on the recent development of high mobility oxide TFTs, and the technical challenges that need to be addressed for display applications. High peiformance devices offer a broader range of opportunities in the scaling of driving circuitry or reduction of power consumption in comparison with In‐Ga‐Zn‐0 (IGZO) TFTs. However, technical hurdles are still present, an important issue being the trade‐off relationship between device performance and reliability.
11‐3: Invited Paper: New Materials for Film Optics and Game‐Changing Head‐Mount Devices
Authors: Adlem K , Davis A , Kaur S , Koehler I , Mulcahy S , Parri O , Sage I , Saito I , Snow B
Published: June 2022

The recent drive towards high performance AR and VR headsets has generated a new demand for materials designed for the targeted requirements of this sector. Many of the most pressing challenges associated with this technology relate to improving the user experience through improved optical components in the combiner. This paper will present the challenges and status of new materials specifically designed for this application. Materials for both passive components, such as flat lenses and gratings as well as for active components will be discussed.
P‐57: Student Poster: Improved Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) for Aerial Image Formed with AIRR by Use of Two Transparent Spheres
Authors: Takiyama Kazuaki , Guo Haotong , Fujii Kengo , Yasugi Masaki , Suyama Shiro , Yamamoto Hirotsugu
Published: June 2022

In the AIRR optical system that combines transparent spheres, the MTF due to quasi‐parallelization is greatly improve according to the placement distance of the transparent spheres. Due to the effect of aberration, the MTF reaches its maximum when the sphere is placed outside its Paraxial approximate focal length.