bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Lowers Bioactivity and Uptake of Synthetic Amorphous Silica by Alveolar Macrophages in a Particle Specific Manner
Authors: Wiemann Martin , Vennemann Antje , Venzago Cornel , Lindner Gottlieb-Georg , Schuster Tobias B. , Krueger Nils
Published: March 2021

Various cell types are compromised by synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) if they are exposed to SAS under protein-free conditions in vitro. Addition of serum protein can mitigate most SAS effects, but it is not clear whether this is solely caused by protein corona formation and/or altered particle uptake. Because sensitive and reliable mass spectrometric measurements of SiO2 NP are cumbersome, quantitative uptake studies of SAS at the cellular level are largely missing. In this study, we combined the comparison of SAS effects on alveolar macrophages in the presence and absence of foetal calf serum with mass spectrometric measurement of 28Si in alkaline cell lysates. Effects on the release of lactate dehydrogenase, glucuronidase, TNFα and H2O2 of precipitated (SIPERNAT® 50, SIPERNAT® 160) and fumed SAS (AEROSIL® OX50, AEROSIL® 380 F) were lowered close to control level by foetal calf serum (FCS) added to the medium. Using a quantitative high resolution ICP-MS measurement combined with electron microscopy, we found that FCS reduced the uptake of particle mass by 9.9% (SIPERNAT® 50) up to 83.8% (AEROSIL® OX50). Additionally, larger particle agglomerates were less frequent in cells in the presence of FCS. Plotting values for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucuronidase (GLU) or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) against the mean cellular dose showed the reduction of bioactivity with a particle sedimentation bias. As a whole, the mitigating effects of FCS on precipitated and fumed SAS on alveolar macrophages are caused by a reduction of bioactivity and by a lowered internalization, and both effects occur in a particle specific manner. The method to quantify nanosized SiO2 in cells is a valuable tool for future in vitro studies.
Diversified Phenomena in Metal- and Transition-Metal-Adsorbed Graphene Nanoribbons
Authors: Lin Shih-Yang , Tran Ngoc Thanh Thuy , Lin Ming-Fa
Published: March 2021

Adatom-adsorbed graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have gained much attention owing to the tunable electronic and magnetic properties. The metal (Bi, Al)/transition metal (Ti, Fe, Co, Ni) atoms could provide various outermost orbitals for the multi-orbital hybridizations with the out-of-plane π bondings on the carbon honeycomb lattice, which dominate the fundamental properties of chemisorption systems. In this study, the significant similarities and differences among Bi-/Al-/Ti-/Fe-/Co-/Ni-adsorbed GNRs are thoroughly investigated by using the first-principles calculations. The main characterizations include the adsorption sites, bond lengths, stability, band structures, charge density distributions, spin- and orbital-projected density of states, and magnetic configurations. Furthermore, there exists a transformation from finite gap semiconducting to metallic behaviors, accompanied by the nonmagnetism, antiferromagnetism, or ferromagnetism. They arise from the cooperative or competitive relations among the significant chemical bonds, finite-size quantum confinement, edge structure, and spin-dependent many-body effects. The proposed theoretical framework could be further improved and generalized to explore other emergent 1D and 2D materials.
A Novel Follitropin Analog Inhibits Follitropin Activity In Vitro
Authors: Azzam Naiel , Bar-Shalom Rinat , Fares Fuad
Published: March 2021

Follitropin (FSH) is a heterodimeric protein composed of an α subunit that is shared with the glycoprotein hormone family, including lutropin (LH), thyrotropin (TSH), human choriogonadotropin (hCG), and a unique β specific subunit. Both α and FSHβ subunits contain two sites of N-linked oligosaccharides, which are important for its function. FSH has a crucial function in the reproductive process in mammals. However, there are some clinical conditions, such as menopausal osteoporosis or adiposity, associated with increased FSH activity. Moreover, in some cases, carcinogenesis is evidently associated with activation of FSH receptor. Therefore, developing a follitropin antagonist might be beneficial in the treatment of these conditions. Here, we describe a novel, engineered, non-glycosylated single-chain FSH variant, prepared by site-directed mutagenesis and fusion of the coding genes of the α and β subunits. The designed variant was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and successfully secreted into the culture medium. We found that the non-glycosylated single-chain FSH analog binds with high affinity to FSH receptor and efficiently inhibits FSH activity in vitro. This variant acts at the receptor level and has the potential to serve as a follitropin antagonist for clinical applications in the future.
Helping Québec Pharmacists Seize the Vaccination Service Opportunity: The Pharmacy Best Practice Workshops
Authors: Srirangan Kajan , Lavenue Arnaud
Published: March 2021

Vaccinations are a safe and effective way to protect against infectious diseases. The World Health Organization estimates vaccines have saved more lives than any other interventions and every year about two to three million deaths are averted worldwide through immunization. To improve vaccination coverage, pharmacists have been increasingly involved in immunization roles in their communities—as advocates, educators, and immunizers. Community pharmacy-based vaccination services have increased both in the number of immunization providers and the number of sites where patients can receive immunizations. In Canada, health care is under provincial legislation—and so, there are distinct differences in scope of pharmacist practice across the country. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, in Québec, Canada’s second-largest province, pharmacists did not have the authority to administer vaccines. To help prepare pharmacists in Québec to become immunizers, we developed and deployed a series of accredited workshops. In these facilitated workshops, pharmacists were able to share best practices that may lead to providing effective vaccination services, identify common competency gaps, discuss effective patient communication skills, and determine how to target the most vulnerable population groups. Participants were also asked to evaluate the workshop. Our results indicate the evaluation was very reliable in measuring participant satisfaction (Cronbach’s α = 0.94) and pharmacists commented that the workshops’ learning outcomes exceeded their expectations, and the topics covered were relevant and applicable. The evaluation also asked participants to identify weaknesses of training, so future educational interventions can be planned accordingly. We believe this work will contribute to the continual growth and advancement of the pharmacy profession in Canada.
Genomic Characterization and Expression Analysis of the SnRK Family Genes in Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Wang Yue , Liu Aizhong
Published: March 2021

Sucrose non-fermenting1-related protein kinases (SnRKs) are a type of Ser/Thr protein kinases, and they play an important role in plant life, especially in metabolism and responses to environmental stresses. However, there is limited information on SnRK genes in Dendrobium officinale. In the present research, a total of 36 DoSnRK genes were identified based on genomic data. These DoSnRKs could be grouped into three subfamilies, including 1 member of DoSnRK1, 7 of DoSnRK2, and 28 of DoSnRK3. The gene structure analysis of DoSnRK genes showed that 17 members had no introns, while 16 members contained six or more introns. The conserved domains and motifs were found in the same subfamily. The various cis-elements present in the promoter regions showed that DoSnRK genes could respond to stresses and hormones. Furthermore, the expression patterns of DoSnRK genes in eight tissues were investigated according to RNA sequencing data, indicating that multiple DoSnRK genes were ubiquitously expressed in these tissues. The transcript levels of DoSnRK genes after drought, MeJA, and ABA treatments were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and showed that most DoSnRK genes could respond to these stresses. Therefore, genomic characterization and expression analyses provide valuable information on DoSnRK genes for further understanding the functions of SnRKs in plants.
Task-Specific Ionic Liquids with Lactate Anion Applied to Improve ZnO Dispersibility in the Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Elastomer
Authors: Sowińska Anna , Maciejewska Magdalena , Guo Laina , Delebecq Etienne
Published: March 2021

Task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs) are ionic liquids with structures and, consequently, properties and behaviors designed for particular applications. In this work, task-specific ILs with alkylammonium or benzalkonium cations and carboxyl groups in the form of lactate anions were used to promote the homogeneous dispersion of the curatives in the elastomer matrix. The reaction of carboxyl groups of TSILs with zinc oxide, which acts as a vulcanization activator, was confirmed. This interaction improved the solubility and dispersibility of zinc oxide particles in the ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) monomer matrix, which consequently affected the curing characteristics of rubber compounds. Most importantly, TSILs increased the efficiency of vulcanization by shortening the time, lowering the temperature and increasing the enthalpy of this process, while maintaining safe processing of elastomer composites. EPDM vulcanizates containing TSILs with lactate anion were characterized by satisfactory functional properties.
Structural Behavior Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Using the Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Strengthening Method
Authors: Kim Tae-Kyun , Park Jong-Sup , Kim Sang-Hyun , Jung Woo-Tai
Published: March 2021

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures age with time, which results in performance degradation and cracks. These performance degradations do not recover easily, but a performance higher than the existing structures can be expected through reinforcement. There are various reinforcement methods for RC structures. This study selected four reinforcement methods: near-surface mounting (NSM), external prestressing (EP), external bonding (EB), and section enlargement (SE). In the past, steel bars were often used as reinforcements. However, this study uses fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), which is an alternative to steel bars owing to its high tensile strength, and its non-corrosive and lightweight properties. It is a basic strengthening material, along with a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) in bar and sheet forms. Various strengthening materials such as a CFRP, GFRP, and prestressing (PS) strand are applied to the NSM, EP, EB, and SE methods, followed by flexural experiments. In addition, changes in the ductility of the RC structures were examined. The concrete EP and near-surface mounting prestressing (NSM(P)) methods have a stiffness that is almost double the non-strengthened specimen. However, because the EP and EB methods are brittle, the NSM(P) method with ductile behavior is considered the most effective.
Prison as a Site of Intense Religious Change: The Example of Conversion to Islam
Authors: Wilkinson Matthew , Irfan Lamia , Quraishi Muzammil , Schneuwly Purdie Mallory
Published: March 2021

Based on the findings of mixed-methods research conducted with 279 Muslim prisoners in 10 prisons in England, Switzerland and France, this paper argues that contemporary European prisons are sites of intense religious change, in which many people born outside Islam and many born-Muslims believe in and practise Islam for the first time. In order to map this experience of intense religious change in prison, the paper articulates an original typology of conversion to identify Muslim converts as Switchers and Intensifiers. Both of these types of convert mobilise their Islam to turn to God in acts of repentance for their crime(s), to find a renewed purpose in life and to re-gain psychological balance and inner peace. By contrast, a minority of prisoners are Reducers, whose Islamic faith diminishes in prison. A minority of converts to Islam also persist or become more deeply entrenched in the Islamist Worldview of Us vs. Them. Therefore, while choosing to follow Islam in prison carries with it some criminogenic risk, conversion to Islam is significantly more likely to help than to hinder prisoners’ rehabilitation by enabling them to feel remorse for their crimes, reconnecting them with work and education and encouraging them to find emotionally supportive company.
A New Integrated Approach for Municipal Landfill Siting Based on Urban Physical Growth Prediction: A Case Study Mashhad Metropolis in Iran
Authors: Qureshi Salman , Shorabeh Saman Nadizadeh , Samany Najmeh Neysani , Minaei Foad , Homaee Mehdi , Nickravesh Fatemeh , Firozjaei Mohammad Karimi , Arsanjani Jamal Jokar
Published: March 2021

Due to irregular and uncontrolled expansion of cities in developing countries, currently operational landfill sites cannot be used in the long-term, as people will be living in proximity to these sites and be exposed to unhygienic circumstances. Hence, this study aims at proposing an integrated approach for determining suitable locations for landfills while considering their physical expansion. The proposed approach utilizes the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) to weigh the sets of identified landfill location criteria. Furthermore, the weighted linear combination (WLC) approach was applied for the elicitation of the proper primary locations. Finally, the support vector machine (SVM) and cellular automation-based Markov chain method were used to predict urban growth. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed approach, it was applied to a case study, namely the city of Mashhad in Iran, where suitable sites for landfills were identified considering the urban growth in different geographical directions for this city by 2048. The proposed approach could be of use for policymakers, urban planners, and other decision-makers to minimize uncertainty arising from long-term resource allocation.
Does the Medium Matter? Linking Citizens’ Use of Communication Platform for Information about Urban Policies to Decision to Trust in Local Government
Authors: Lee Hyunkuk
Published: March 2021

Information plays a formative role in citizens’ decision to trust their government. Given an increasingly diverse information environment, which is attributable to the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT)s, the Internet, and social media, we hypothesize that citizens’ use of a particular medium for information (online vs offline, and government source vs. non-government source) about their government plays an important and distinctive role in shaping citizens’ satisfaction with government information provision and trust in government. To address this central hypothesis, we analyze data from the 3068 citizen respondents. The findings of our study reveal that citizens’ use of the online medium for information about their government, such as information from local government web-media, lacks a strong relationship with their levels of satisfaction with government information provision and trust in government, while citizens’ use of different sources on the offline medium for information about their government, such as information from local government meeting or official gazette, is found to have a stronger association with citizens’ trust in government and satisfaction with government information provision.
A Portfolio of Effective Water and Soil Conservation Practices for Arable Production Systems in Europe and North Africa
Authors: Choden Tshering , Ghaley Bhim Bahadur
Published: March 2021

To secure sustainable food production for meeting the growing global demand for food, it is imperative, while at the same time challenging, to make efficient use of natural resources with minimal impact on the environment. The study objective is to provide insights into the multiple benefits and trade-offs of different sustainable agricultural practices that are relevant across pedo-climatic zones in Europe and North Africa, including conservation agriculture, crop diversification, organic agriculture, and agroforestry. Widespread adoption of these practices in specific regions depends on the effectiveness with which their applications and attributes are communicated to farmers, and their suitability to local conditions and opportunities. Scale impacts of the practices range from field to catchment levels, but the best empirical evidence has been generated at field level in on-farm and experimental trials. The outcomes from the application of each of these practices depend on variables specific to each site, including pedo-climatic zone, geography, weather, ecology, culture, and traditions. Each practice has trade-offs and the same practice can have different effects when compared to conventional agriculture. To make site-specific recommendations, a careful assessment of overall benefits must be made. Adoption can be stimulated when farmers have the opportunity to experiment on their own land and discover the advantages and disadvantages of different practices.
A-Judo: An Innovative Intervention Programme to Prevent Bullying Based on Self-Determination Theory—A Pilot Study
Authors: Montero-Carretero Carlos , Roldan Alba , Zandonai Thomas , Cervelló Eduardo
Published: March 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention entitled A-Judo Programme for the reduction in bullying and improvement of prosocial behaviour at school, based on the theory of self-determination (SDT). Physical education teachers (PETs) received 20 h of specific training, implementing the programme thereafter in their classes in a total of 10 sessions of 50 min each (two sessions per week over 5 weeks). Variables such as teacher’s teaching style, basic psychological needs (BPNs), self-determined motivation, tolerance and respect, moral identity, harassment and victimisation were studied. Seventy-nine students (11.13 ± 0.52 y) of both sexes (40 girls and 39 boys) participated in the study and were divided into an intervention and a control group (which received no training). The results showed significant changes with moderate to high effect sizes in BPN, motivation, tolerance–respect, moral identity and bullying. These research findings improve the body of knowledge of the applications offered by SDT and its usefulness for improving anti-bullying programmes through PET training.
Evaluation of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for Estimating Soil Organic Matter and Phosphorus in Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem
Authors: Serrano João , Shahidian Shakib , Marques da Silva José , Paixão Luís , de Carvalho Mário , Moral Francisco , Nogales-Bueno Julio , Teixeira Ricardo F.M. , Jongen Marjan , Domingos Tiago , Rato Ana Elisa
Published: March 2021

The Montado is an agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystem characteristic of the Mediterranean region. Pasture productivity and, consequently, the possibilities for intensifying livestock production depend on soil fertility. Soil organic matter (SOM) and phosphorus (P2O5) are two indicators of the evolution of soil fertility in this ecosystem. However, their conventional analytical determination by reference laboratory methods is costly, time consuming, and laborious and, thus, does not meet the needs of current production systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate an alternative approach to estimate SOM and soil P2O5 based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with multivariate data analysis. For this purpose, 242 topsoil samples were collected in 2019 in eleven fields. These samples were subjected to reference laboratory analysis and NIRS analysis. For NIRS, 165 samples were used during the calibration phase and 77 samples were used during the external validation phase. The results of this study showed significant correlation between NIRS calibration models and reference methods for quantification of these soil parameters. The coefficient of determination (R2, 0.85 for SOM and 0.76 for P2O5) and the residual predictive deviation (RPD, 2.7 for SOM and 2.2 for P2O5) obtained in external validation indicated the potential of NIRS to estimate SOM and P2O5, which can facilitate farm managers’ decision making in terms of dynamic management of animal grazing and differential fertilizer application.
Climate-Responsive Green-Space Design Inspired by Traditional Gardens: Microclimate and Human Thermal Comfort of Japanese Gardens
Authors: Cui Lihua , Rupprecht Christoph D. D. , Shibata Shozo
Published: March 2021

Urban green spaces can provide relaxation, exercise, social interaction, and many other benefits for their communities, towns, and cities. However, green spaces in hot and humid regions risk being underutilized by residents unless thermal environments are designed to be sufficiently comfortable. Understanding what conditions are needed for comfortable outdoor spaces, particularly how people feel in regard to their thermal environment, is vital in designing spaces for public use. Traditional gardens are excellent examples of successful microclimate design from which we can learn, as they are developed over the generations through observation and modification. This study analyzed how Japanese gardens affect people’s thermal stress on extremely hot summer days. Meteorological data was collected in three Japanese gardens, and human thermal comfort was evaluated through physiological equivalent temperature (PET). Statistical analysis examined the relationship between spatial configurations of the gardens and thermal comfort. Our study revealed that Japanese gardens can efficiently ameliorate thermal stress. Spatial analysis showed that garden elements affect thermal comfort variously depending on time of the day and spatial distribution.
The Role of Entrepreneurial Agility in Digital Entrepreneurship and Creating Value in Response to Digital Disruption in the Newspaper Industry
Authors: Karimi Jahangir , Walter Zhiping
Published: March 2021

Recently, digitization has fundamentally changed and disrupted the dynamics of the economy, society, and markets. This study integrates existing strategic entrepreneurship and business model concepts and constructs with a digital platform-related perspective by focusing on the cognitive aspects of strategic entrepreneurship decision-making and clarifying the conceptual foundation of entrepreneurial agility and its dimensions. It investigates how entrepreneurial agility can combine or integrate opportunity- and advantage-seeking behaviors for product and business model innovation to pursue digital entrepreneurship, to foster sustainable processes and practices, and to create value in response to digital disruption. It finds that entrepreneurial agility directly impacts building digital platform capabilities for product and business model innovation and that building digital platform capabilities indirectly influence creating value through business model innovation adoption. This study discusses the theoretical and managerial implications for digital entrepreneurship research in detail by identifying and testing the relationships among these constructs.
The Negative Impact of Uncertainty on R&D Investment: International Evidence
Authors: Lin Yuchen , Dong Daxin , Wang Jiaxin
Published: March 2021

Previous studies have not provided consistent conclusions regarding the impact of uncertainty on research and development (R&D) investment. While most of the previous literature has focused only on one or a small group of countries, this study examines the effect of uncertainty on R&D on the basis of a sample covering 109 countries from 1996 to 2018. The country-level uncertainty is measured using the “World Uncertainty Index”, which has recently been developed by Ahir et al. (2018). By estimating a panel data fixed-effects regression model, it is found that uncertainty has a significantly negative impact on R&D investment at the country-level aggregate scale. We also find that uncertainty depresses the number of R&D personnel and patent applications, although the effect on R&D personnel is not statistically significant. These findings imply that high uncertainty poses a considerable threat to global innovation and technological progress. Heterogeneity analyses across different country groups demonstrate that, although the impact of uncertainty on R&D is not statistically significant in some country groups, its effect is always negative and no positive effect is observed.
A Trial-and-Error Toll Design Method for Traffic Congestion Mitigation on Large River-Crossing Channels in a Megacity
Authors: Chen Xinyuan , Wang Yiran , Zhang Yuan
Published: March 2021

In this study, we addresse traffic congestion on river-crossing channels in a megacity which is divided into several subareas by trunk rivers. With the development of urbanization, cross-river travel demand is continuously increasing. To deal with the increasing challenge, the urban transport authority may build more river-crossing channels and provide more high-volume public transport services to alleviate traffic congestion. However, it is widely accepted that even though these strategies can mitigate traffic congestion to a certain level, they are not essential approaches to address traffic congestion. In this study, we consider a channel toll scheme for addressing this issue. Additional fares are applied to private vehicles, that an appropriate number of private vehicle drivers are motivated to take public transport or switch to neighboring uncongested river-crossing channels. To minimize the toll surcharge on both neighboring channels, while alleviating the traffic flow to a certain level, in this study, we provide a bi-objective mathematical model. Some properties of this model are discussed, including the existence and uniqueness of the Pareto optimal solution. To address this problem, a trial-and-error method is applied. Numerical experiments are provided to validate the proposed solution method.
mRNA-lncRNA Co-Expression Network Analysis Reveals the Role of lncRNAs in Immune Dysfunction during Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Mukherjee Sumit , Banerjee Bodhisattwa , Karasik David , Frenkel-Morgenstern Milana
Published: March 2021

The recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has rapidly developed into a global public health threat. Patients severely affected with COVID-19 present distinct clinical features, including acute respiratory disorder, neutrophilia, cytokine storm, and sepsis. In addition, multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines are found in the plasma of such patients. Transcriptome sequencing of different specimens obtained from patients suffering from severe episodes of COVID-19 shows dynamics in terms of their immune responses. However, those host factors required for SARS-CoV-2 propagation and the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for dysfunctional immune responses during COVID-19 infection remain elusive. In the present study, we analyzed the mRNA-long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) co-expression network derived from publicly available SARS-CoV-2-infected transcriptome data of human lung epithelial cell lines and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from COVID-19 patients. Through co-expression network analysis, we identified four differentially expressed lncRNAs strongly correlated with genes involved in various immune-related pathways crucial for cytokine signaling. Our findings suggest that the aberrant expression of these four lncRNAs can be associated with cytokine storms and anti-viral responses during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection of the lungs. Thus, the present study uncovers molecular interactions behind the cytokine storm activation potentially responsible for hyper-inflammatory responses in critical COVID-19 patients.
Immunogenicity and Safety of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine: Preclinical Studies
Authors: Kandeil Ahmed , Mostafa Ahmed , Hegazy Rehab R. , El-Shesheny Rabeh , El Taweel Ahmed , Gomaa Mokhtar R. , Shehata Mahmoud , Elbaset Marawan A. , Kayed Ahmed E. , Mahmoud Sara H. , Moatasim Yassmin , Kutkat Omnia , Yassen Noha N. , Shabana Marwa E. , GabAllah Mohamed , Kamel Mina Nabil , Abo Shama Noura M. , El Sayes Mohamed , Ahmed Amira N. , Elalfy Zahraa S. , Mohamed Bassim MSA , Abd El-Fattah Safa N. , El Hariri Hazem Mohamed , Abdel Kader Mona , Azmy Osama , Kayali Ghazi , Ali Mohamed A.
Published: March 2021

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 at the end of 2019, 64 candidate vaccines are in clinical development and 173 are in the pre-clinical phase. Five types of vaccines are currently approved for emergency use in many countries (Inactivated, Sinopharm; Viral-vector, Astrazeneca, and Gamaleya Research Institute; mRNA, Moderna, and BioNTech/Pfizer). The main challenge in this pandemic was the availability to produce an effective vaccine to be distributed to the world’s population in a short time. Herein, we developed a whole virus NRC-VACC-01 inactivated candidate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and tested its safety and immunogenicity in laboratory animals. In the preclinical studies, we used four experimental animals (mice, rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters). Antibodies were detected as of week three post vaccination and continued up to week ten in the four experimental models. Safety evaluation of NRC-VACC-01 inactivated candidate vaccine in rats revealed that the vaccine was highly tolerable. By studying the effect of booster dose in the immunological profile of vaccinated mice, we observed an increase in neutralizing antibody titers after the booster shot, thus a booster dose was highly recommended after week three or four. Challenge infection of hamsters showed that the vaccinated group had lower morbidity and shedding than the control group. A phase I clinical trial will be performed to assess safety in human subjects.
HCV Core/NS3 Protein Immunization with “N-Terminal Heat Shock gp96 Protein (rNT (gp96))” Induced Strong and Sustained Th1-Type Cytokines in Immunized Mice
Authors: Hajikhezri Zamaneh , Roohvand Farzin , Maleki Monireh , Shahmahmoodi Shohreh , Amirzargar Ali Akbar , Keshavarz Abolfazl , Seyed Negar , Farahmand Mohammad , Samimi-Rad Katayoun
Published: March 2021

Feeble cellular responses induced by T cell-based vaccines are a major challenge for the development of an effective vaccine against Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To address this challenge, the potential of N-terminal fragment of gp96 heat shock protein (rNT (gp96) as an adjuvant was evaluated and compared to that of the CpG (as a recognized Th1-type adjuvant) in the formulation of HCV core/NS3 antigens in three immunization strategies of protein/protein, DNA/DNA, and DNA/protein. Immunized mice were evaluated for elicited immune responses in week 3 (W3) and 11 post-immunizations. Our results demonstrated that the protein (subunit) vaccine formulated with rNT (gp96) in protein/protein strategy (core/NS3 + gp96) was significantly more efficient than CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) formulation and all other immunization strategies in the induction of Th1-type cytokines. This group of mice (core/NS3 + gp96) also elicited a high level of anti-Core-NS3 total immunoglobulin G (IgG) with dominant IgG2a isotype at W3. Thus, the co-administration of recombinant NT (gp96) protein with rHCV proteins might be a promising approach in the formulation of HCV subunit vaccine candidates for induction of high levels of Th1 cytokines and humoral responses.
COMUNICAÇÃO NEUROIMUNOLÓGICA Comunicação neuroimunológica no desenvolvimento de doenças mentais
Authors: Peixoto Laura Cabral , Brito Vanessa de Albuquerque , Galvão Rhaldney Kaio Silva , Melgarejo da Rosa Michelle
Published: March 2021

Introdução. Atualmente, sabe-se que os mecanismos cerebrais como o desenvolvimento de memórias traumáticas, sofrem interferência do sistema imune e, portanto, são modulados por processos imunológicos. Nesta linha, estudos relatam o aumento ou a diminuição de mediadores inflamatórias em pessoas com déficits cognitivos ou distúrbios de humor como depressão. Objetivo. Explanar a influência do sistema imunológico na fisiologia do sistema nervoso central. Método. Revisão bibliográfica a partir de buscas em bancos de dados acadêmicos e dados epidemiológicos como SCIELO, SCIENCE DIRECT, PUBMED e DATASUS. A consulta foi realizada utilizando como palavras-chave: “doenças neurodegenerativas”, “doenças psicológicas”, “sistema imunológico” “neuroimunomodulação” e “mecanismos cerebrais”. Artigos na língua inglesa e portuguesa, publicados nos últimos 15 anos foram considerados. Resultados. Inúmeros estímulos provenientes do SNC são capazes de modular uma resposta imune e vice-versa. O eixo Hipotálamo-Pituitária Adrenal (HPA) é um dos responsáveis nessa troca de informação. Também participam desta relação alguns hormônios como: endorfinas, prostaglandina, tireotrofinas, hormônio do crescimento e o Sistema Nervoso Autônomo Simpático (SNAS). Além disso, a ativação do eixo HPA e a consequente produção dos hormônios glicocorticoides durante o processo de estresse são um dos principais mecanismos responsáveis pelas alterações da resposta imune corporal. Conclusão. Insere-se uma importante comunicação entre o sistema nervoso central e o sistema imune, mostrando que a neuroimunomodulação, entra hoje, com uma nova oportunidade terapêutica para o esquecimento de fatos traumáticos, distúrbios de humor e déficits cognitivos.
Recyclage et ontologie de l’objet dans les textes du bas Moyen Âge : l’exemple de Marseille
Authors: Smail Daniel Lord , Pizzorno Gabriel , Hay Nathaniel
Published: March 2021

This contribution seeks to describe the contexts in which textual evidence concerning the recycling of objects, drawn in this instance from the archives of later medieval Marseille, can complement archaeological finds, and how, by bringing history and archaeology together, we can develop a more thorough understanding of modes of recycling in medieval Europe. In addition, the habits of recycling surveyed in this contribution encourage us to question not only the ontological status of household objects but also our own typological assumptions regarding the classification of objects.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Decentralised Small Hydro Power Projects for Rural Electrification: A Case Study of Meenvallom Project in Kerala with the Use of RET Screen Expert Advanced Software
Authors: Samuel Liji
Published: March 2021

Rural electrification is a fundamental factor of poverty mitigation and rural growth of a nation. In India, electricity has not played an active role in the socio-economic progress of the village. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing by 8%, whereas the involvement of agriculture division is 1.9%. The government of India has encouraged the goal of providing electricity to all villages in various phases. Therefore, the aim of this research was to define the techno-economic analysis of decentralized Small Hydro Power projects in Kerala with the help of RET Screen expert software. The objectives are to explore the potential hydropower to be harvested by Small Hydro Power for rural electrification, to assess financial saving and cost analysis and to investigate the environmental impact of the Small Hydro Power in Kerala. The RET Screen expert is used to assess the economic feasibility of a Small Hydro Power system and to recommend the possibility of installing the technology in the Meenvallom SHP in Kerala. The RET Screen expert is a Clean Energy Management Software developed by the Government of Canada, which is a free-of-charge decision support software for pre-feasibility or feasibility analysis and also ongoing energy efficiency performance analysis (Netscreen Canada). An attempt has been made in this study is to evaluate the features of rural electrification in Kerala and the viability of Small Hydro Power (SHP).
Economic Burden of Malaria: A National Disease
Authors: Sangamithra A , Vishnu S
Published: March 2021

World Health Organization (WHO) stated that Malaria is a life-threatening parasite illness caused by the Genus Plasmodium spreading to human beings through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria disease is curable and preventable. Unawareness of Malaria in non-endemic areas needs specific attention and the need for health awareness through the health care workers should be enhanced usual care in both areas. Despite being aware of the government programs and measures for the control of Malaria and the endless major problem of health disease in India and many other nations. The complexness and the panic preponderance of the disease are governed by multiple limitations as technological, functional, and monetary and therefore go on inflicting heavy socio-economic losses to people.
A Study on Problems and Prospects of Farmers with Reference to Tirunelveli District
Authors: Sundaramoorthy S , Abirami A
Published: March 2021

Farmer or agriculture is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. They are the vertebrae of our community. All are the ones who present us with all the food that we eat. As a result, the community as a whole of the country depends upon farmers. In addition to the farmers contribute almost 17% of the Indian economy. But the condition of farmers in India is critical. Hence, this study is mainly focused on finding out the problems faced by the farmers why they are shifting area from agriculture to non-agriculture. Both primary and secondary data were used. 350 samples were collected based on a convenient sampling technique. Data were analyzed with the help of SPSS. The significant finding of the study is that Lack of long term policy perspective, Monsoon failure, There is no planning in agricultural land and Importance for traditional cultivation. These four factors mainly induce the farmer shifting area from agriculture to non-agriculture.
Aksu Kayabalığı, Ponticola turani (Kovačić & Engin, 2008)’nin Sakkular Otolit Morfometrisi
Authors: SAKALLI Muhammet Mustafa , YILMAZ Savaş
Published: March 2021

Aksu Kayabalığı, Ponticola turani (Kovačić & Engin, 2008) Türkiye’ye endemik bir tatlısu balığıdır. Bu çalışmada, Haziran 2015- Ağustos 2016 tarihleri arasında Terme Çayı (Samsun)’ndan toplanan Aksu Kayabalığı’nın sakkular otolit ölçümleri ile somatik büyümesi arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir. Ayrıca şekil indeksleri kullanılarak türün sakkular otolit şekli tanımlanmıştır. Elektroşok cihazı ile toplam 232 birey yakalanmıştır. Sakkular otolitlerin boyu, yüksekliği, çevresi, alanı ve ağırlığı kaydedilmiştir. Sakkular otolit değişkenleri ile balık somatik büyümesi arasındaki ilişkiler üssel fonksiyonla tanımlanmıştır. Söz konusu ilişkiler, sol-sağ bölge ve dişi-erkek bireyler arasında farklılık göstermemiştir. Tüm ilişkiler oldukça önemli çıkmıştır (P0,84). Balık boyu ve ağırlığı ile en güçlü ilişkiyi gösteren ölçüm sırasıyla %92 ile otolit çevresi ve %90 ile otolit ağırlığı olmuştur. Şekil indeksleri, Aksu Kayabalığı otolitlerinin geometrik olarak düzensiz ve dikdörtgen şeklinde olduğunu doğrulamıştır. Bu araştırma Aksu Kayabalığı’nın otolit morfometrisi üzerine ilk çalışmadır.
Analysis of interpersonal interaction features in patients with chronic prostatitis with different status of marriage satisfaction
Authors: Kryvytskyi V.A.
Published: March 2021

The features of interpersonal interaction in patients with chronic prostatitis and their wives, to determine, in the future, the targets of medical and psychological care for this contingent were studied. 109 men with chronic prostatitis and their wives were examined. According to the criterion of presence / absence of marital satisfaction, the surveyed couples were divided into two groups. The first group included 73 (67.0 %) couples with low or reduced levels of marital satisfaction. The second included 36 (33.0 %) married couples who were satisfied with their own relationship. The comprehensive examination included, in addition to standard clinical methods, a clinical-psychological and psychodiagnostic study. By common disharmonious interpersonal patterns, which contributed to the development of marital dissatisfaction, which led to secondary trauma to spouses due to the formation of inadequate psychological response to chronic prostatitis in men and related sexual dysfunction, identified such deformations of family communication as reduction of trust, mutual understanding, ease and psychotherapy; prevalence of signs of distrustful-skeptical, straightforward-aggressive, dependent or submissive patterns of interpersonal behavior; dominance of aggression (32.9 %) or avoidance (67.1 %) as the leading strategies of psychological protection in communication. The obtained data should be taken into account when developing measures of medical and psychological assistance to married couples in which the husband has chronic prostatitis.
Clinical-pathopsychological and psychodiagnostic specifics of comorbid adaptation disorders in people with computer addiction
Authors: Starodubtseva Yu.
Published: March 2021

The clinical-psychopathological and psychodiagnostic features of adaptation disorders combined with computer addiction were studied. A comprehensive survey of 97 people with adaptation disorders and clinically pronounced computer addiction (main group) and 62 patients with adaptation disorders without signs of addictive behavior (control group) were carried out. It was established that the clinical picture of adaptation disorders with comorbid computer addiction was characterized by depressive, anxiety, obsessive, asthenic, dysphoric, and somatic-vegetative syndrome complexes, 35.8 % of patients had carpal tunnel syndrome. Clinical manifestations of anxiety and depression on the Hospital scale, severe depressive and anxiety episodes on the Hamilton scale, high levels of situational and personal anxiety on the Spielberger–Hanin scale, excessive mental stress on the Nemchin scale are typical for people with adaptation disorders and computer addiction. It was shown that the key role in the pathopsychological mechanisms of comorbid adaptation disorders with computer addiction belongs to the de-actualization of basic personality needs, instability of the level of requirements, the dominance of game motives, the use of coping strategies aimed at distraction and emotion, application of a strategy of behavior in the form of avoidance and adaptation in a conflict situation, high level of social frustration in the areas of their own way of life, family relationships, relationships at work and the content of their work.
The Torreón of Machu Picchu: an astronomical observatory?
Authors: Kościuk Jacek , Ziółkowski Mariusz
Published: March 2021

The Torreón is one of the most emblematic buildings of Machu Picchu. Since 1929, different archaeoastronomical studies have been carried out on this building to verify its function as an astronomical observatory. The authors of the present text analyse in detail these hypotheses using a thorough survey of the structure created from 3D scans and digitised models. The analysis concludes that we can take as established evidence that the builders of the tower designed it according to some solar orientations, but without the purpose of erecting an astronomical observatory as was apparent in the cases of Intimachay and Inkaraqay.
Rebar Corrosion Monitoring and Prevention Techniques
Authors:   Research scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India, Sooriyalakshmi* N. , Helena. H Dr. Jane ,   Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Anna University, Chennai
Published: March 2021

Corrosion is the gradual degradation of the metal by chemical reaction with the environment. The service life of the structure is a major concern that depends on the cost involved in construction, maintenance, and repair works. This paper discusses the corrosion mechanism, factors influencing corrosion, corrosion monitoring techniques, and corrosion protection methods. The monitoring techniques include the Linear polarization method, Active monitoring using sensors, DAQ cards, impedance measurement using chips, etc. Prevention methods include an application of paints with various chemical compositions, cathodic protection inhibitors, the use of fiberreinforced polymer, etc.
Eco Friendly Dye Extraction From Cyanophyta for Textiles
Authors:   Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, India., Ramkumar E. , Murali V.S. Bala ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, India., Guna T. ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, India., Dharshan S.M. ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, India., Vishnu S. Ajay ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology, India.
Published: March 2021

In countries like India there is always a scarcity for fresh water along with it polluting the available fresh water sources is a major threat. The major fresh water bodies are affected by eutrophication. It is the phenomenon in which algae forms a layer above the water surface and does not allow the sun light to enter into the water body. Due to this reason organisms which is present in the water body gets affected and the ecosystem gets damaged. The algae which are taken from the water bodies is dropped as waste in garbage or let to dry out on roads. “One man’s waste is other man’s treasure” so instead of wasting the collected algae, the algae can be used to prepare a dye which can be used to dye clothes for different uses. The collected algae are used as a raw material in an algal dying machine where the processes carried out are cleaning, drying the algae, grind it, boil them with water and other essentials, filter the residue and finally filtrate will be used to print on cloth.
The influence of drought stress on the development of maize seedlings and the dynamics of activity of enzymes in their tissues
Authors: Mahmud Mammadov Ziyaddin , Zahir Aliyeva Naila
Published: March 2021

Investigated the dynamics of the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDG, EC 1.1.1.49) and malate dehydrogenase decarboxylating (MDHD, malic- enzyme, EC 1.1.1.40) enzymes that play an important role in the formation of NADPH pool of cells, under drought stress. It has been established that the development of maize seedlings is accompanied by a weakening of the activity of the G6PDH and a noticeable increase in the activity of MDHD. A drought stress causes activation of both of enzymes, in particular G6PGH, both in the root and in the stem tissues of the seedlings. An increase in the concentration is accompanied by the induction of MDHD activity to a greater extent, than that of G6PDH. Key words: maize seedling, drought stress, glucose-6-phosphate dehidrogenase, malate dehydrogenase decarboxylating