bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of Alpha 1-Adrenoceptor Antagonists on the Postsynaptic Sensitivity: Using Slice Patch-Clamp Technique for Inhibitory Postsynaptic Current in Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons From Lumbosacral Spinal Cord in Rats
Authors: Uta Daisuke , Hattori Tsuyoshi , Yoshimura Megumu
Published: June 2020

Purpose: Alpha1-adrenoceptors participate in improving storage symptoms of male lower urinary tract symptoms. However, the mechanism of action of these compounds remains unclear. The goal of the present study was to clarify the effect of α1- adrenoceptor antagonists on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/glycine-mediated outward currents of the inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) in substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons from the lumbosacral spinal cord in rats.Methods: Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Blind whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed in SG neurons from isolated spinal cord slice preparations. IPSCs were recorded in individual SG neurons to which naftopidil (100μM), tamsulosin (100μM), silodosin (30μM), or prazosin (10μM) were applied sequentially with intervening washout periods. Strychnine (2μM), bicuculline (10μM), or tetrodotoxin (TTX)(1μM) were added before naftopidil. Individual outward currents were analyzed.Results: The bath application of naftopidil, yielded outward IPSCs in 13 of 52 SG neurons. The naftopidil response was unchanged in the presence of TTX. Regression analysis of the outward currents between the 1st and 2nd applications of naftopidil revealed a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.996 with a line slope of 0.983. The naftopidil-induced outward current was attenuated in the presence of strychnine and/or bicuculline. The GABA/glycine-mediated outward currents induced by tamsulosin, silodosin, and prazosin were smaller than those obtained with naftopidil.Conclusions: Naftopidil-induced GABA/glycine-mediated outward currents in a subset of SG neurons prepared from the L6– S1 level of rat spinal cord. The results indicated that α1-adrenoceptor antagonists, particularly naftopidil, induce neural suppression (in part) by mediating hyperpolarization. The response is associated with glycinergic and/or GABAergic neural transmission. Naftopidil may suppress the micturition reflex and improve urinary storage symptoms as a subsidiary effect resulting from hyperpolarization in SG neurons of the spinal cord.
Comparison of Strength Values of Professional Footballers According to Their Positions before Football Season
Authors: Bağış Yunus Emre
Published: June 2020

The purpose of the present study was to compare the strength values of professional footballers according to their positions before the football season. The study group consisted of 27 professional footballers of Şanlıurfaspor Football Club in the 2nd League of Turkey. The mean height of the Study Group was 180.92±6.18 (cm), mean body weight was 80.18±1.5 (kg), and the mean age was 26.40±4.4 (years). The inclusion criteria for the study was being volunteers, and the necessary permissions were obtained from the players, club managers and coaches. The Precor-brand device was used to measure the differences of strengths according to the positions of the footballers. “1 RM” measurements were made from shoulder press, latt pully, leg curl, leg extension, and leg press machines in the footballers. The SPSS 24.00 Program was used in the statistical analysis of the study data. The descriptive statistics were given as mean, standard deviation, and minimum and maximum values. The normality test of the data was analyzed with the Shapiro-Wilk Test. One-Way Anova Test was used to identify the differences between the players and the positions. The significance level was determined as 0.05. According to the results obtained in the study, no significant differences were detected in strength values between goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and striker positions (p > 0.05). As a result, among the biomotoric properties, strength is important, and quite necessary for a footballer to perform at a high level. These values obtained from 2nd League football players are important for being taken as reference values, and it can be argued that these values obtained in the pre-season prepared the basis for the lack of qualitative differences. In future studies, data that will be obtained from different league levels and training stages will lead to research being considered differently.
Waarom leidt de strijd voor rechtvaardigheid tot meer rouwklachten?
Authors: van Eersel J.H.W.
Published: June 2020

Waarom leidt de strijd voor rechtvaardigheid tot meer rouwklachten?

Verlies van werk heeft een grote impact op psychische welzijn van mensen, wat zelfs kan leiden tot klachten rouw, depressie en angst. Hoe meer het ontslag als onrechtvaardig en onverwacht wordt ervaren, hoe groter de kans is dat de persoon vastloopt in het rouwproces bij baanverlies. De strijd voor rechtvaardigheid gaat vaak hand in hand met letselschade. Deze strijd kan ertoe leiden tot de persoon langer blijft hangen in boosheid en meer gebruik maakt van onhandige copingstijlen, en dat kan een negatieve impact hebben om de mentale gezondheid en belemmerend werken in de zoektocht naar een andere baan. Tijdige herkenning van signalen dat de persoon vast dreigt te lopen, kan dan ook veel leed besparen.
Intern onderzoek in crisistijd – waar staan we nu en hoe verder?
Authors: Liem V.S.Y.
Published: June 2020

Intern onderzoek in crisistijd – waar staan we nu en hoe verder?

De interne onderzoekspraktijk in Nederland is de afgelopen jaren niet onbesproken geweest, in het bijzonder daar waar de onderzoeken door advocaten worden uitgevoerd. In dit redactioneel wordt een korte update gegeven van de voornaamste thema’s en wordt kort vooruitgeblikt naar de interne onderzoekspraktijk na COVID-19. Wat gaan de toezichthouders doen? Zijn er nieuwe thema’s en wordt compliance binnen bedrijven aangescherpt?
Mogelijkheden voor het beter waarborgen van het verschoningsrecht door beheerst gebruik van machine learning
Authors: Sluijsmans H.B.J. , de Bruijn V.J.C.
Published: June 2020

Mogelijkheden voor het beter waarborgen van het verschoningsrecht door beheerst gebruik van machine learning

Opsporingsdiensten moeten vaak geheimhouderstukken filteren uit grote hoeveelheden data. Auteurs bespreken de uitgangspunten en relevante opsporingsbelangen bij een dergelijke ‘schoning’. Artikel 98 Sv en artikel 126aa Sv vullen die uitgangspunten en belangen verschillend in. Machine learning is in staat om op basis van objectief gekozen startsets de schoning (deels) geautomatiseerd uit te voeren. Deze methode voorkomt dat opsporingsambtenaren onnodig kennisnemen van de inhoud van geheimhouderstukken en zorgt dat het opsporingsonderzoek niet onnodig vertraagt. Auteurs presenteren de eerste resultaten van een dergelijke schoning in Nederland, en bespreken hoe machine learning ook in het huidig wettelijk kader kan worden ingepast.
Interviews in interne onderzoeken vanuit advocatuurlijk perspectief
Authors: Emmelkamp D.
Published: June 2020

Interviews in interne onderzoeken vanuit advocatuurlijk perspectief

In praktisch ieder intern onderzoek rijst de vraag of interviews met werknemers moeten worden gehouden. Dat is begrijpelijk. Interviews zijn een van de meest krachtige instrumenten in de gereedschapskist van onderzoekende advocaten. Tegelijkertijd kleven aan interviews de nodige nadelen en zijn zij niet zonder risico’s voor het onderzoek. Een doordachte voorbereiding en uitvoer zijn cruciaal om de risico’s te minimaliseren en de waarde van interviews te maximaliseren. Strategie, ethiek en techniek staan daarbij centraal.
Passengers Exposure to PM2.5 in Self-polluted BRT-Diesel Operated Transport System Microenvironments
Authors: Guevara-Luna Fredy Alejandro , Guevara-Luna Marco Andrés , Belalcázar-Cerón Luis Carlos
Published: June 2020

BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) vehicles are a frequented microenvironment, it consists of exclusive lines for the transport of passengers in articulated buses. In many large cities of developing countries BRT vehicles are diesel operated buses emitting important amounts of PM2.5, a pollutant related with many health affectations. Evidence of high exposure levels have been reported onboard BRT vehicles, but detailed analysis of self-pollutions has not been developed. In this research, measurements of PM2.5 inside the BRT system of Bogota called TransMilenio were performed. Speed and location data were recorded in real-time. In-situ measurements were performed in 3 lines of the system: Av. El Dorado, Av. Caracas and Calle 80, in different seat locations inside the buses. PM2.5 concentrations above 120 µg/m3 were measured for all the cases studied. Values above the 24 h WHO (World Health Organization) recommendation were registered. Trips were determined to be between 20 to 40 minutes per passenger. A CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) model was implemented to simulate the exhaust emissions from the buses, 3 traffic velocities of BRT were evaluated: 20, 32 and 60 km/h. Measurements and simulation results were used to calculate the self-pollution ratios inside the vehicles. The rear of the buses was identified as the most polluted section onboard with a ratio of self-pollution about 35% average.
Dexmedetomidine as an Additive to Local Anesthesia for Decreasing Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma Surgery: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Ali Hassan , Eissa Sherif , Magdy Heba , Khashba Mohamed
Published: June 2020

Background: Nowadays, the peribulbar block is used as a tool in glaucoma surgery. As a side effect, it increases intraocular pressure that raises the need for adjuvant medication to overcome this problem in the diseased eye. Dexmedetomidine has proven to decrease intraocular pressure (IOP) in the non-glaucomatous eye. Objectives: In a triple-blinded randomized study, dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to the peribulbar block was used to decrease IOP in the diseased eye. Methods: We randomized 98 eyes to three groups, including D50 (35 eyes) with dexmedetomidine 50 µg, D25 (33 eyes) with dexmedetomidine 25 µg, or control group (C) (30 eyes) with the plain peribulbar block. The study was randomized triple-blinded, aiming at testing the effect of dexmedetomidine on IOP after block injection. Results: The pre-injection IOP was 27.71 ± 2.52, 27.25 ± 3.53, and 26.2 ± 3.57 mmHg in groups D50, D25, and C, respectively, then increased to 29.71 ± 1.69, 30.25 ± 2.36 and 29.4 ± 3.756 in groups D50, D25 and C, respectively, with P >0.05. The pressure decreased after the surgery to 10.86 ± 1.478 in group D50, 10.75 ± 1.63 in group D25, and 10.6 ± 1.589 in group C, with no statistical differences (P > 0.05) between the groups. Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine did not decrease IOP in the glaucomatous eye.
Effects of Kaempfera parviflora Supplementation on the Cardiovascular Endurance of Athletes: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Design Study
Authors: Onsiri Sombat , Amitpai Chatchai , Sukomol Natapong , Sirisopon Nutthakritta , Tanpanit Amnuay , Cardinal Bradley J
Published: June 2020

Background: Kaempfera (K.) parviflora (i.e., Thai ginseng) is believed to have medicinal properties associated with good health (e.g., increased vitality, metabolism booster) because it expands blood vessels, which allows for increased blood flow. These effects might extend into the realm of improving physical performance, specifically that of the cardiovascular system. Objectives: A randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design study was conducted to determine the effects of 12 weeks of K. parviflora supplementation on the cardiovascular endurance of healthy male adults. Methods: Participants included 57 Thai air force cadets who were undergoing physical training for sports competition. Participants were randomly divided into either the treatment group (n = 30) (Age = 20.30 + 0.65 yrs.) or control group (n = 27) (Age = 20.37 + 0.68 yrs.). Treatment group participants received 360 mg of K. parviflora extract in capsule form, and those in the control group received a placebo capsule. Measurements included lactate threshold and heart rate recovery, assessed at baseline and weeks 6 and 12. Group differences were assessed using a 2 (group) × 3 (time) repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: No main or interaction effects were observed for the lactate threshold (all P > 0.05). No group differences were observed for heart rate recovery (P > 0.05); however, a significant time effect was observed for heart rate recovery at weeks 6 and 12 (P < 0.05), which also marked the beginning of an interaction effect showing that those in the experimental group improved more than those in the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In this set of observations, 12-weeks of K. parviflora supplementation had no effect on the lactate threshold; however, it does appear that it might have improved heart rate recovery.
Protective Effects of Echium amoenum on Oxidative Stress and Gene Expression Induced by Permethrin in Wistar Rats
Authors: Abbasi Larki Reza , Zayerzadeh Ehsan , Harzandi Naser , Anissian Ali
Published: June 2020

Background: Echium amoenum (E. amoenum), as one of the most popular plants in Iran, is traditionally used to treat different types of disorders. Objectives: This experimental study aimed to evaluate the modulatory effects of E. amoenum on permethrin (PMN)-induced oxidative stress in rats and to determine the cytoprotective effect of E. amoenum on PMN in SK-Hep-1 cells. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups, including the control (normal saline), orally treated PMN (125 mg/kg of PMN), E. amoenum (100 mg/kg), and E. amoenum + PMN groups for 28 days. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as the expression of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were measured in the liver of all rats. Also, the cytoprotective effect of E. amoenum against PMN was evaluated in the treated SK-Hep-1 cells. Results: The results indicated that LPO increased significantly in the PMN-treated group, as evidenced by the high concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver. Alterations of the antioxidant system were also confirmed by the significant decline in CAT and GPx activities (2.9 ± 0.14 and 0.5 ± 0.03, respectively; P < 0.05) and the significant downregulation of CAT (0.4 ± 0.02 folds) and GPx (0.3 ± 0.01 folds) mRNA expression in the liver (P < 0.05). PMN also stimulated significant changes in hepatic biomarkers and induced pathological changes in the liver. On the other hand, administration of E. amoenum significantly reduced abnormalities in biochemical markers, LPO, antioxidant enzymes, gene expression, and pathological complications induced by PMN (P < 0.05). E. amoenum also exhibited cytoprotective effects against cytotoxicity induced by PMN in SK-Hep-1 cells. Conclusions: The present results demonstrated that E. amoenum has significant antioxidant, gene-regulating, and cytoprotective effects.
Management of Graves’ Hyperthyroidism: More Than a Century of Progression
Authors: Abdi Hengameh , Amouzegar Atieh
Published: June 2020

Context: There are three therapeutic modalities for the management of Graves’ disease (GD), including thyroid surgery, radioactive iodine (RAI), and antithyroid drugs (ATDs). We aimed to briefly review the history of these treatment strategies and their advantages and disadvantages. Evidence Acquisition: We searched PubMed for English language articles using pertinent search terms. Results: Each treatment modality for GD is accompanied by several advantages and disadvantages. Nowadays, ATDs are the most commonly prescribed therapy for GD worldwide. The lack of well-designed, large RCTs comparing three different treatments for hyperthyroidism concerning various short-term and long-term outcomes has led to remarkable uncertainty in the preference of each of these treatments, as is evident in relevant guidelines from different societies. Recently, the efficacy and safety of long-term use of ATDs have been documented. Conclusions: Pros and cons of each therapeutic modality for Graves’ hyperthyroidism should be taken into account during the physician-patient discussion to select the primary treatment. Considering recent data about the long-term efficacy and safety of ATDs, it seems that the appropriate selection of Graves’ patients for long-term ATD therapy can be a new avenue in the treatment and even cure of GD.
Long-Term Antithyroid Treatment in Pediatric and Juvenile Graves’ Disease
Authors: Delshad Hossein , Takyar Miralireza
Published: June 2020

Context: Thyroid hormones can affect the development and function of the central nervous system and various other organs. As such, the pathologic excess of these hormones, known as thyrotoxicosis, can be the source of significant damage during childhood and adolescence. The objective of this study was to review the management of Graves’ disease (GD) in the pediatric age group, especially concerning long-term antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment. Evidence Acquisition: A thorough search of literature published from 1980 to 2019 was performed in PubMed only for English language literature. The following key terms were used: “Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis in children, thyrotoxicosis remission, thyrotoxicosis relapse, definite therapy, radioactive iodine, thyroidectomy, anti-thyroid drugs, propylthiouracil, methimazole, and carbimazole”. We also did a thorough search in review articles, observational studies, open-label/controlled randomized/non-randomized trials, and meta-analyses, as well as the articles cited by textbooks, chapters, and review articles, which led us to locate older sources of information on the topic. Results: More than 90% of thyrotoxicosis in the pediatric age group is attributable to GD. A host of strategies, including ATDs, radioiodine therapy, and surgery, are employed to treat this entity. However, there is still significant controversy regarding the most optimal strategy. Current evidence suggests that ATDs are the best initial treatment in pediatric patients with GD. Although ATDs are widely used, the duration of their administration is controversial and varies significantly between protocols. A major problem is the high relapse rate (up to 70%), but extending the duration of such treatment could potentially bring the remission rate up to 88%. Indications for using radioactive iodine treatment include the lack of remission following years of receiving ATDs, poor compliance, and the emergence of a major side effect. In pediatric patients aged five-years-old or younger who suffer from very large goiter, severe ophthalmopathy, and persistent hyperthyroidism, as well as those with the lack of response to or showing adverse effects of ATDs, it is advisable to consider total or near-total thyroidectomy. Conclusions: Antithyroid drugs are the mainstay of treatment of juvenile GD, and long-term methimazole therapy increases the remission rate in pediatric GD.
Comparison of the Particle Swarm Optimization with the Genetic Algorithms as a Training for Multilayer Perceptron Technique to Diagnose Thyroid Functional Disease
Authors: Sharifi Ali , Alizadeh Kamal
Published: June 2020

Background: Thyroid is a gland that controls body key functions. Since thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling metabolism, the thyroid glands are one of the major organs in the body. Disruption of the glands causes thyroid disease, which is one of the most common endocrine diseases worldwide. Early diagnosis of thyroid disease is difficult since early symptoms are easily confused with those of other illnesses. In recent years, the employment of computer techniques to utilize data mining and intelligent algorithms accelerates the early diagnosis of the disease. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the role of the new automatic method according to a multilayer perceptron (MLP) in the diagnosis of thyroid disease. Methods: The study aimed at comparing the particle swarm optimization (PSO) with the genetic algorithms (GA) as training for MLP technique used to diagnose thyroid functional disease. The data were collected for three classes: 150 cases of euthyroidism, 30 cases of hypothyroidism, and 35 cases of hyperthyroidism. MLP was used to elucidate the pattern in the data and species responsible for separating the classes. Furthermore, improved PSO and GAs were used to train the system, and the sensitivity and specificity of the model were studied in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. All analyses were performed using MATLAB software. Results: For the proposed model, the simulations results showed that the GA algorithm had a higher performance than the PSO algorithm in the diagnosis of functional thyroid disease, and the means of classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 95%, 96%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusions: The results of real data indicated that the GA-MLP can be used with high diagnostic accuracy as an effective tool to clinically diagnose thyroid functional disease. The current study was a step towards prototype system development of the classification of knowledge in this area with a much lower computational cost.
Teacher Care and Students’ Sense of Connectedness in the Urban Mathematics Classroom
Authors: Maloney Tanya , Matthews Jamaal Sharif
Published: June 2020

This multimethod study draws on theories of teacher care, dispositions, and culturally relevant pedagogy to examine how 12 urban mathematics teachers’ perceptions of their own care practices align with their Black and Latinx students’ (n= 321) sense of connectedness in the mathematics classroom. A qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with the teachers established three typologies of care:empathetic,transactional, andblended. A questionnaire measure of mathematics classroom connectedness revealed that students in classrooms led by teachers who enacted an empathetic caring pedagogy were more likely to agree that their teachers provided emotional support, their classroom felt like a family, and their contributions were valued in class. Furthermore, students’ sense of classroom connectedness mediated the link between teacher care and the students’ perceived value and relevance of mathematics.
Beyond Rise Over Run: A Learning Trajectory for Slope
Authors: Peck Frederick A.
Published: June 2020

This article presents the results of a design-based research study related to slope that took place in a high school algebra 1 classroom. In the study, students explored situations related to making predictions. As students engaged with these situations, they reinvented and made meaningful multiple subconstructs of slope. I present the findings in the form of a learning trajectory for slope, which describes how learning happened over time, the principles that guide the design of activities that support this learning, and the rationale for how the activities support learning.
Impact of Cooney, Shealy, and Arvold’s (1998) Belief Structures: A Literature Review and Citation Analysis
Authors: Gomez Carlos Nicolas , Conner AnnaMarie
Published: June 2020

Cooney, Shealy, and Arvold (1998) wrote a widely cited article describing the belief structures of prospective teachers and argued that the structures can aid in describing how beliefs change and the influence of authority on the individual. We investigate the impact of this manuscript on the field. To do this, we conducted a literature review (n= 59) of journal articles and proceedings published since 1998 covering the same population and goals of Cooney, Shealy, and Arvold (changing prospective teachers’ beliefs) and then conducted an analysis of 101 journal articles citing Cooney, Shealy, and Arvold (1998) to see why the authors cited the piece. We conclude that the impact of Cooney, Shealy, and Arvold’s article differs from that of their results and suggest that belief structures should be more carefully investigated by the field.
Growth of Striped Catfish Fingerlings (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in Aquaponic System with Fine Bubbles (FBs) Application
Authors: Naomi Monica , Hasan Zahidah , Sumadi . , Hamdani Herman , Andriani Yuli , Subhan Ujang
Published: June 2020

This study aims to determine the growth of Striped Catfish fingerlings (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and using Fine Bubbles (FBs) application with various pressures in the aquaponic system. The study was conducted at the Laboratory of Aquaculture, Ciparanje, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Padjadjaran University from 18th September to 18th October 2019. The method used in this study was the experimental method using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments and three replicates. Treatment A: Control (without FBs), Treatment B: FBs with pressure 4.5 atm, Treatment C: FBs with pressure 5 atm, and Treatment D: FBs with pressure 5.5 atm. This research used water spinach as biofilter. The measured parameters in this study were fish growth, plant productivity, and water quality which includes levels of temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ammonia and phosphate. The results showed that the highest fish specific growth rate in treatment D is 6.68 ± 0.43%/day with a survival rate of 100 ± 0.00%, the highest plant productivity, with a stem length of 115.03 cm, a weight of 62.75 g, and leaf growth of 30 strands. While the water quality parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen concentrations ranged from 24.2-27°C, 7.72-7.94 mg / l, nitrate 0.243-0.602 mg /, ammonia 0.001-0.010 mg / l and  phosphate 0.147-0.229 mg / l respectively.
The New Pandemic Covid-19: Treatment Options and Developments
Authors: Gayatri R. , Lavanya S. , Hussain Meeran , Veslin John
Published: June 2020

SARS-CoV-2, the novel infectious causative factor of the new pandemic COVID-19 produced 5934936 total infected cases and 367166 death cases across multiple continents as of May 31, 2020. Majority of the world’s population are still vulnerable to COVID-19. As of now, there are no clear scientific proven treatment or drug to combat covid-19, but prevention and management can reduce the spread of virus. In this crisis, a vaccine, that can train the immune system to fight against this novel coronavirus becomes essential to control the further dissemination of the new pandemic COVID-19. This review provides insights into the on- going treatment options available for COVID-19 including antiviral drugs, Ayurvedic treatment, combination of drugs and plasma therapy. This review also aims to highlight on the development of vaccines and its clinical status.
Comparison between India, USA and China on the Basis of Rigidity of Public Health Measures with Case Count and Mortality Rate during COVID-19
Authors: Nagpal Rajeev , He Yifan , Goyal Nitender , Radia Hernisha , Kumanan Meera
Published: June 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been governed by various policies across the world, with corresponding public health measures varying in rigidity. Does this influence the course of the illness within each nation? This research presents an analysis of policy approaches adopted by the United States, China, and India, to describe the rigidity of public health measures and effects on case numbers and mortality rates. We show that in India, high rigidity is correlated with lower mortality. Rigidity in policy is also influenced by available resources in the country; for a resource-poor country like India, strict lockdown measures are vital to prevent overwhelming the healthcare systems and its resources. However, for a nation like the United States, a greater availability of resources may result in less stringent measures, putting greater emphasis on the workforce that prevents total lockdown. Similarly, we observe that citizen trust also influences public health policies. Chinese citizens had greater trust in their government and followed the less strict measures, and were successful in decreasing the case number and mortality rates.
Effects of Biofertilizer with and without Molybdenum on Growth and Seed Yield of Chickpea under Doon Valley of Uttarakhand
Authors: Chandra Girish , Gambhir Lokesh , Upadhyay Radha
Published: June 2020

The availability of micronutrients in the niche defines the growth and yield parameters of chickpea. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of biofertilizer with and without molybdenum on growth and seed yield of chickpea, at Seed Production Block, SGRR University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The experiment included seven treatment groups replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design. It was observed that all growth and seed yield parameters varied significantly with the application of different levels of biofertilizers with or without molybdenum. The observed results showed that all the plant growth parameters like plant height (54.67 cm), number of primary branches (5.34/ plant), number of pods per plants (64.00), fresh weight of plant (81.66 g) were maximum with treatment T6 (20 g Rhizobium+25 g PSB +0.3 g molybdenum/kg seeds). The number of nodules per plant (28.00) and 1000 seed weight (142 g) were recorded maximum with the application of treatment T7 (25 g Rhizobium + 30 g PSB + 0.3 g molybdenum per kg of seeds). The seed yield of chickpea was recorded maximum (15.67 q/ha) with the application of 20 g Rhizobium along with 25 g PSB and 0.3 g molybdenum per kg of seeds (T6). Thus, our findings indicate that, among all other treatments, the application of 20 g Rhizobium along with 25 g PSB and 0.3 g molybdenum per kg of seeds is suitable for higher seed yield of chickpea in Doon valley of Uttarakhand.
Optimizing Conditions for Enzymatic Extraction of Juice from Jackfruit (Koozha) Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Bensi P. S. , Divakar Suma , Kumari K. S. Meena , Mini C. , Joseph Brigit , Krishnaja U.
Published: June 2020

The central composite design of Response surface methodology, statistical tool was used in this study for analyzing the effects of enzymatic treatment conditions namely; incubation time, incubation temperature and enzyme concentration on the percent yield. The jackfruit koozha pulp was treated with the pectinase enzyme at different incubation time (1- 5 hours), incubation temperature (30-45°C) and at various level of enzyme concentration (0.1-0.8 per cent). The effect of these independent variables on percent yield of juice was evaluated. Based on response surface and contour plots, the optimum condition for jackfruit koozha juices obtained were: incubation time 2.75 hours, incubation temperature 42.3°C and the concentration of enzyme 0.5 percent with desired yield of 82 percentages. Enzymatic extraction, as a pretreatment condition in koozha type results in higher yield recovery. Statistical analysis showed that percent yield of juice was significantly correlated with the incubation time, incubation temperature and level of enzyme. The most significant variable enhancing the juice yield is enzyme concentration.
Electrochemically Activated Water – Anolyte. Nascent Oxygen
Authors: Mehandjiev Dimitar , Gluhchev Georgi , Ignatov Ignat , Vassileva Paunka , Voykova Dimitrinka , Ivanov Nikolay
Published: June 2020

Chemical processes that could occur in the anode chamber of an electrolytic cell divided by a semi-permeable membrane when direct current passes through a water solution of weak mineralization are described. The interest concerns the possibility of a formation of chemical substances with strong oxidative action as O2 and H2O2, due to nascent oxygen.  These substances can destroy the structure of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The preservation of these properties for a long period of time without specific storage requirements makes the anolyte cheap and effective disinfection and therapeutic means.
Design and Construction of Electric Fish Smoking Kiln Using Locally Available Composite Materials
Authors: Seyi Ogundana Odunayo , Abdulakeem Abdulkadri , Danladi Jibril , Wumi Owa Taiwo
Published: June 2020

The design and construction of low cost electric fish smoking kiln was undertaken with the aim of improving the existing fish-smoking kiln. The newly constructed kiln was made using locally available composite materials and technologies sourced locally. The kiln consists of smoking kiln chamber, heating elements, a variable thermostat, lagging materials of insulating clay wall which has a duration of not less than five years and metal frame made of angle iron on which the fish tray, oil collector pan were assembled. The production cost of the electric fish-smoking kiln is one hundred thousand naira compare with mechanical ones that cost within the range of three hundred thousand and four hundred thousand naira excluding transportation charges.
Theoretical Prediction of the Preferred Production Routes of 225Ac from Proton Induced Reactions on 232Th
Authors: Hemba Emmanuel C. , Ige Olumide O. , Ali Haruna , Jonah Sunday A.
Published: June 2020

Alpha emitting radionuclides have potential for the therapy of cancers because of their high linear energy transfer, and short range biologic effectiveness. Alpha emitter 225Ac(T1/2 = 10.0 days) is a potent nuclide for targeted radionuclide therapy. 225Ac excitation functions via 232Th (p,7np)225Th→225Ac, 232Th (p,6n2p)225Ac, 232Th (p,4nα)225Ac, 232Th (p,5n3p)225Th→ 225Ac, and 232Th (p,3nαp)225Ra→225Ac  reactions were calculated by Empire 3.2 code up to 200MeV and compared with existing data. No single nuclear level density with a pre-equilibrium model produce results which agree with the existing experimental data all through the energy range. However, a hybrid of the different nuclear level densities with the Hybrid Monte Carlo Simulation (HMS) and the exciton PCROSS pre-equilibrium models at different energy range provide results which are in good agreement with the existing experimental data. Hence the preferred production route for the direct and indirect production of 225Ac has also been suggested.
Sequenced Somatic Cell Reprogramming and Differentiation Inside Nested Hydrogel Droplets
Authors: Green David W. , Watson Jolanta A. , Watson Gregory S. , Stamboulis Artemis
Published: June 2020

The efficient genesis of pluripotent cells or therapeutic cells for regenerative medicine involves several external manipulations and conditioning protocols, which drives down clinical applicability. Automated programming of the genesis by microscale physical forces and chronological biochemistry can increase clinical success. The design and fabrication of nested polysaccharide droplets (millimeter‐sized) with cell sustaining properties of natural tissues and intrinsic properties for time and space evolution of cell transformation signals between somatic cells, pluripotent cells and differentiated therapeutic cells in a swift and efficient manner without the need for laborious external manipulation are reported. Cells transform between phenotypic states by having single and double nested droplets constituted with extracellular matrix proteins and reprogramming, and differentiation factors infused chronologically across the droplet space. The cell transformation into germ layer cells and bone cells is successfully tested in vitro and in vivo and promotes the formation of new bone tissues. Thus, nested droplets with BMP‐2 loaded guests synthesize mineralized bone tissue plates along the length of a cranial non‐union bone defect at 4 weeks. The advantages of sequenced somatic cell reprogramming and differentiation inside an individual hydrogel module without external manipulation, promoted by formulating tissue mimetic physical, mechanical, and chemical microenvironments are shown.
Heparin‐Coated Albumin Nanoparticles for Drug Combination in Targeting Inflamed Intestine
Authors: Zhang Sufeng , Cho Won Joon , Jin Amy T. , Kok Lie Yun , Shi Yunhua , Heller David E. , Lee Young‐Ah Lucy , Zhou Yixuan , Xie Xi , Korzenik Joshua R. , Lennerz Jochen K. , Traverso Giovanni
Published: June 2020

Targeting areas of inflammation offers potential therapeutic and diagnostic benefits by maximizing drug and imaging marker on‐target effects while minimizing systemic exposure that can be associated with adverse side effects. This strategy is particularly beneficial in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here an inflammation‐targeting (IT) approach based on heparin‐coated human serum albumin nanoparticles (HEP‐HSA NPs) that utilize the increased intestinal permeability and changes in electrostatic interaction at the site of intestinal inflammation is described. Using small‐molecule and biologic drugs as a model for drug combination, the HEP‐HSA NPs demonstrate the capacity to load both drugs simultaneously; the dual‐drug loaded HEP‐HSA NPs exhibit a higher anti‐inflammatory effect than both of the single‐drug loaded NPs in vitro and selectively bind to inflamed intestine after enema administration in vivo in a murine model of colitis. Importantly, analyses of the physicochemical characteristics and targeting capacities of these NPs indicate that HEP coating modulates NP binding to the inflamed intestine, providing a foundation for future IT‐NP formulation development.
On‐Demand Autophagy Cascade Amplification Nanoparticles Precisely Enhanced Oxaliplatin‐Induced Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Wang Xuhui , Li Man , Ren Kebai , Xia Chunyu , Li Jianping , Yu Qianwen , Qiu Yue , Lu Zhengze , Long Yang , Zhang Zhirong , He Qin
Published: June 2020

Chemoimmunotherapy‐induced antitumor immune response is highly dependent on tumor autophagy. When tumor cells are treated with chemoimmunotherapy, timely overactivated autophagy can not only lead more tumor cells to death, but also participate in the endogenous antigen presentation and immune stimulators secretion of dying cells, thus plays a vital role. However, timely and accurately overactivated tumor autophagy during chemoimmunotherapy is of great difficulty. Here, an on‐demand autophagy cascade amplification nanoparticle (ASN) is reported to boost oxaliplatin‐induced cancer immunotherapy. ASN is prepared by self‐assemble of autophagy‐responsible C‐TFG micelle and is followed by electrostatic binding of oxaliplatin prodrug (HA‐OXA). After entering tumor cells, the HA‐OXA shell of ASN first responds to the reduction microenvironment and releases oxaliplatin to trigger tumor immunogenic cell death and mildly stimulates tumor autophagy. Then, the exposed C‐TFG micelle can sensitively respond to oxaliplatin‐induced autophagy and release a powerful autophagy inducer STF‐62247, which precisely transforms autophagy to “overactivated” condition, leading tumor cells to autophagic death and enhance subsequent tumor antigen processing of the dying cells. In CT26 tumor‐bearing mice, ASN exhibits optimal immune stimulation and antitumor efficiency due to its on‐demand autophagy induction ability.
Ink Formulation for Printed Organic Electronics: Investigating Effects of Aggregation on Structure and Rheology of Functional Inks Based on Conjugated Polymers in Mixed Solvents
Authors: Schlisske Stefan , Rosenauer Christine , Rödlmeier Tobias , Giringer Kai , Michels Jasper J. , Kremer Kurt , Lemmer Uli , Morsbach Svenja , Daoulas Kostas Ch. , Hernandez‐Sosa Gerardo
Published: June 2020

The utilization of solution‐processable organic semiconducting (OSC) polymers and the development of industrial‐relevant printing techniques enable cost‐efficient fabrication of optoelectronic devices for the mass market. Yet, the adaptation of viscoelastic properties of a functional ink to the respective printing technology is challenging. One crucial parameter is the formulation of the ink, which can be adjusted by selecting the combination of solvents that are mixed with the OSC. The current study considers model functional inks composed of a poly‐phenylene‐vinylene‐based OSC and two solvents, empirically known to be good. Their quality is quantified using the Hansen solubility parameters. The influence of the composition of the solvent mixture on structural, dynamical, and rheological behavior of the ink is investigated with light scattering, viscometry, and rheometry. Although both solvents are considered good, polymer aggregation is found at all compositions. Aggregation depends on composition in a nontrivial way. For dilute and semi‐dilute inks, the effects of aggregates on the ink viscosity are hidden by the difference in viscosities of the neat solvents. For elevated concentrations, the aggregates produce a hysteresis in the shear‐dependent viscosity, which should be considered when developing a functional ink for a particular printing technique.
Materials Design Principles for Air‐Stable Lithium/Sodium Solid Electrolytes
Authors: Zhu Yizhou , Mo Yifei
Published: June 2020

Sulfide solid electrolytes are promising inorganic solid electrolytes for all‐solid‐state batteries. Despite their high ionic conductivity and desirable mechanical properties, many known sulfide solid electrolytes exhibit poor air stability. The spontaneous hydrolysis reactions of sulfides with moisture in air lead to the release of toxic hydrogen sulfide and materials degradation, hindering large‐scale manufacturing and applications of sulfide‐based solid‐state batteries. In this work, we systematically investigate the hydrolysis and reduction reactions in Li‐ and Na‐containing sulfides and chlorides by applying thermodynamic analyses based on a first principles computation database. We reveal the stability trends among different chemistries and identify the effect of cations, anions, and Li/Na content on moisture stability. Our results identify promising materials systems to simultaneously achieve desirable moisture stability and electrochemical stability, and provide the design principles for the development of air‐stable solid electrolytes.
Activation of the G‐Protein‐Coupled Receptor Rhodopsin by Water
Authors: Chawla Udeep , Perera Suchithranga M. D. C. , Fried Steven D. E. , Eitel Anna R. , Mertz Blake , Weerasinghe Nipuna , Pitman Michael C. , Struts Andrey V. , Brown Michael F.
Published: June 2020

Visual rhodopsin is an important archetype for G‐protein‐coupled receptors, which are membrane proteins implicated in cellular signal transduction. Herein, we show experimentally that approximately 80 water molecules flood rhodopsin upon light absorption to form a solvent‐swollen active state. An influx of mobile water is necessary for activating the photoreceptor, and this finding is supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Combined force‐based measurements involving osmotic and hydrostatic pressure indicate the expansion occurs by changes in cavity volumes, together with greater hydration in the active metarhodopsin‐II state. Moreover, we discovered that binding and release of the C‐terminal helix of transducin is coupled to hydration changes as may occur in visual signal amplification. Hydration–dehydration explains signaling by a dynamic allosteric mechanism, in which the soft membrane matter (lipids and water) has a pivotal role in the catalytic G‐protein cycle.
Boom and bust? Political will and anti‐corruption in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Walton Grant W. , Hushang Husnia
Published: June 2020

When new governments come to power they often claim they will address corruption better than their predecessors. While policymakers and scholars recognise that interrogating these claims is important, few studies have analysed how anti‐corruption commitments made by incoming governments change over time. This article addresses this gap in the literature by comparing anti‐corruption allocations and spending—key indicators of political will—from two of Papua New Guinea's most recent governments: the Peter O'Neill‐led government (2011–2019) and the government led by James Marape (2019 to present). Drawing on this analysis, we argue that policymakers need to monitor and respond to an anti‐corruption funding cycle whereby new governments initially increase budgetary allocations but then, over time, reduce allocations and underpay and undermine anti‐corruption organisations as accusations of corruption and frustration with anti‐corruption efforts intensify.
Selenide‐chitosan as High‐performance Nanophotocatalyst for Accelerated Degradation of Pollutants
Authors: Ali Nisar , Ahmad Shehzad , Khan Adnan , Khan Saraf , Bilal Muhammad , Ud Din Salah , Ali Nauman , Iqbal Hafiz M. N. , Khan Hammad
Published: June 2020

Water pollution is one of the major global challenges today. Water bodies are contaminated by the heavy release of waste effluents of textile industries, which includes intensively colored dye pollutants. Herein, a ternary nanocomposite of bismuth copper selenide with small particle size and ternary metal selenide (TMS)‐chitosan microspheres (TMS‐CM) of the spherical porous surface were successfully synthesized. SEM, XRD, EDX, FTIR, and UV/Vis spectrophotometry analysis revealed the structural and morphological characteristics of the newly synthesized nanocomposites. SEM imaging showed the average diameter of TMS nanoparticle to be 33 nm. The crystal size was calculated as 6.33 nm and crystalline structure as orthorhombic using XRD findings. EDX confirmed the presence of Bi, Cu, and Se in the ternary nanocomposite. The bandgap of 1.8 eV was calculated from Tauc's plot for the TMS nanocomposite. SEM confirmed the successful synthesis of spherical TMS‐CM microspheres of porous surface morphology with an average size of 885.6 μm. The presence of chitosan microspheres in the synthesis of TMS nanocomposite was identified by FTIR spectral analysis. Furthermore, highly efficient photocatalytic degradation (up to 95.4%) of ARS was achieved within 180 min at pH 4.0 using 0.5 g of TMS‐CM in sunlight. The first‐order kinetic model fitted well to the photocatalytic decontamination of ARS using TMS‐CM with a rate constant of 6.1x10−2 min−1. The TMS‐CM gave attractive results and high efficiency in photocatalytic degradation of ARS dye after reusing and regeneration of up to seven successive cycles. The newly synthesized nanophotocatalyst could be efficiently used for the decontamination of dye polluted water from textile industries.
Identifying interactive biological pathways associated with reading disability
Authors: Lancaster Hope Sparks , Liu Xiaonan , Dinu Valentin , Li Jing
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Past research has suggested that reading disability is a complex disorder involving genetic and environment contributions, as well as gene–gene and gene–environment interaction, but to date little is known about the underlying mechanisms.

Method

Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we assessed the contributions of genetic, demographic, and environmental variables on case–control status using machine learning. We investigated the functional interactions between genes using pathway and network analysis.

Results

Our results support a systems approach to studying the etiology of reading disability with many genes (e.g.,RAPGEF2,KIAA0319,DLC1) and biological pathways (e.g., neuron migration, positive regulation of dendrite regulation, nervous system development) interacting with each other. We found that single nucleotide variants within genes often had opposite effects and that enriched biological pathways were mediated by neuron migration. We also identified behavioral (i.e., receptive language, nonverbal intelligence, and vocabulary), demographic (i.e., mother's highest education), and environmental (i.e., birthweight) factors that influenced case–control status when accounting for genetic information.

Discussion

The behavioral and demographic factors were suggested to be protective against reading disability status, while birthweight conveyed risk. We provided supporting evidence that reading disability has a complex biological and environmental etiology and that there may be a shared genetic and neurobiological architecture for reading (dis)ability.