bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local planning responsibilities for disaster waste management (DWM): Building knowledge from storm Alex in the South Region of France
Authors: Marchesini Gaïa
Published: March 2023

As natural disasters increase, the stakes around disaster waste management (DWM) are rising and planning becomes necessary. Yet, planning for DWM faces many obstacles, in particular regarding the lack of clear responsibilities. Who should be mandated to plan for DWM? What benefits and downsides does each potential planner offer? Is a centralised DWM planning process more effective than several? This article aims at answering these questions and assessing the assets and weaknesses of potential DWM planners, by looking into the case study of DWM after storm Alex in the Roya Valley (South France).

Eight criteria can be considered to analyse the links between the stakeholders and their environment, and assess their relevance as DWM planners: geographic scale, time scale, resources, responsibilities, planning tools, coordination capacities, disaster, and waste. According to the existing literature, it seems that a comprehensive DWM plan is more detailed, centralises all the information and enables systematic waste treatments. However, in practice, the study shows that it is difficult to find an adequate stakeholder to develop such a plan and enhance the participation and collaboration of other stakeholders on this subject.
Quand la subjectivité d’animaux confinés nous affecte. Retour réflexif sur une ethnographie de singes reclus en contexte d’expérimentation animale
Authors: Ndjangangoye-Gallino Sophie
Published: March 2023

Le présent article se donne pour objectif de participer à l’ouverture des sciences humaines aux autres qu’humains, dont les animaux. Il s’agira de participer à la réflexion épistémologique autour de ces autres existences. À partir d’une enquête ethnographique sur les relations entre professionnels et primates autres qu’humains en contexte d’expérimentation animale, on s’interrogera sur les catégorisations limitantes ou libérantes. Puis on se demandera dans quelle mesure la rencontre avec ces primates maltraités, altère (pour ne pas dire « affecte »). Autour d’une auto-socioanalyse et d’une réflexion sur l’accueil des résultats d’enquêtes, c’est finalement un fragment de la réalité de ces singes reclus (dans une terminaison goffmanienne) et de leur subjectivité qui sera livré.
Sainteté et animaux, Jnoun et Baraka. Regard anthropologique sur une « danse » herméneutique entre humains et autres qu’humains en contexte marocain
Authors: Mekki-Berrada Abdelwahed , Khalsi Khalil
Published: March 2023

Cet article s’ancre dans un travail ethnographique effectué dans des milieux urbains marocains au début des années 2000 auprès de tradipraticiens. La présente réflexion tente de faire émerger les possibles lignes de rupture et de continuité ontologique entre humains et autres qu’humains au sein d’une cosmologie islamique active dans l’espace ethnomédical marocain. L’hypothèse est que le mal, physique ou spirituel, dont souffrent les usagères et les usagers constitue un événement de rupture cosmologique que le tradipraticien tâche de réparer par une forme de reliaison ontologique puisée dans la baraka, un puits immatériel de bénédiction, ancestral et transgénérationnel, distribué à parts inégales entre humains et autres qu’humains, individus et objets. L’intervention d’animaux et d’esprits – chèvre, chat oudjinn– actualise les récits prophétiques et agiographiques tout en esquissant un réseau complexe d’intercessions à même d’activer la baraka. Un examen attentif de l’altérité humain-djinnpermettra d’esquisser une conception de la subjectivité autre qu’humaine qui subvertit les canons de l’identité capsulaire dont la corporalité serait le siège.
Toutes les vies perdues, une à une
Authors: Guidée Raphaëlle
Published: March 2023

Dans quelle mesure la culture mémorielle forgée dans le sillage des catastrophes historiques du XXe siècle peut-elle éclairer la narration des pertes autres qu’humaines ? En cette période d’extinction massive des espèces animales et végétales, le massacre et la disparition des autres formes de vie travaille la culture dans des termes analogues à ceux de la mort en masse : deuil, mélancolie, pertes incommensurables. Mais cette extension du domaine du chagrin aux autres qu’humains n’est pas sans poser problème. Comment se souvenir de toutes les vies animales et végétales perdues, une à une, quand le vécu de tant de vies humaines, déjà, nous échappe ? De quelle manière la littérature ou les sciences sociales pourraient-elles réparer des pertes que nous n’appréhendons qu’en masse, ou pas du tout ?
Du Néguanthropos et de ses artifices. Se savoir non inhumain au XXIe siècle
Authors: Krzykawski Michał
Published: March 2023

Cet article s’inscrit dans le cadre théorique de la néguanthropologie dont les jalons ont été posés dans les derniers travaux de Bernard Stiegler. En dépassant les angles morts du débat concernant la critique de l’anthropocentrisme, cet article propose d’adopter une position néguanthropocentrée, notamment par rapport aux enjeux de l’ère Anthropocène. Le but d’une telle démarche est double. D’une part, il s’agit de montrer que ce que nous avons coutume de qualifier d’« humain » n’existe pas au-delà de la relation qui nous lie avec l’artificiel. D’autre part, il s’agit de repenser cette relation entre l’humain et l’artificiel afin de combattre l’anthropisation et, du coup, de témoigner de notre capacité de devenir non inhumain.e.s.
Breakthrough of error correction in quantum computing
Authors: Fan Heng ,   Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Published: March 2023

By using a superconducting processor, Google Quantum AI group demonstrated that a logic qubit realized by surface code of quantum error correction performs better when the number of physical qubits increases. Two surface codes to encode logic qubits for scaling are realized experimentally, with multiple cycles of quantum error correcting assisted by ancillary qubits. This result can be considered as an important step toward fault-tolerant quantum computers. In this review paper, we introduce briefly the mechanism of quantum error correction. As an example, Shor’s nine-qubit error correction code is explained. Then, the new experiments of Google quantum AI group are introduced to show their significance in scaling. The advances in other quantum error correction experiments are also reviewed. Finally, the development of quantum computers is discussed.
SocioPedia+: a visual analytics system for social knowledge graph-based event exploration
Authors: Nguyen Tra My , Chun Hong-Woo , Hwang Myunggwon , Kwon Lee-Nam , Lee Jae-Min , Park Kanghee , Jung Jason J.
Published: March 2023

In the recent era of information explosion, exploring event from social networks has recently been a crucial task for many applications. To derive valuable comprehensive and thorough insights on social events, visual analytics (VA) system have been broadly used as a promising solution. However, due to the enormous social data volume with highly diversity and complexity, the number of event exploration tasks which can be enabled in a conventional real-time visual analytics systems has been limited. In this article, we introduce SocioPedia+, a real-time visual analytics system for social event exploration in time and space domains. By introducing the dimension of social knowledge graph analysis into the system multivariate analysis, the process of event explorations in SocioPedia+ can be significantly enhanced and thus enabling system capability on performing full required tasks of visual analytics and social event explorations. Furthermore, SocioPedia+ has been optimized for visualizing event analysis on different levels from macroscopic (events level) to microscopic (knowledge level). The system is then implemented and investigated with a detailed case study for evaluating its usefulness and visualization effectiveness for the application of event explorations.
Investigating smart city adoption from the citizen’s insights: empirical evidence from the Jordan context
Authors: Nusir Muneer , Alshirah Mohammad , Alghsoon Rayeh
Published: March 2023

This study aims to investigate the factors that perceive citizens’ intention to adopt smart city technologies in the Arab world. A self-administered questionnaire that included 312 end users as citizens in Amman, Jordan’s capital city, was used in this study. This study uses advanced statistical techniques to test an expanded technology acceptance model (TAM) that incorporates the determinants of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, security and privacy, ICT infrastructure and inadequate Internet connectivity, social influence, and demographic profiles. Based on the results, perceived ease of use and ICT infrastructure and Internet connectivity showed positive association with the intention of citizens to adopt smart city services in Jordan. By recognizing the factors that predict citizens’ adoption of smart city services, this study presents some theoretical implications and practical consequences related to smart city service adoption.
Stock trend prediction using sentiment analysis
Authors: Xiao Qianyi , Ihnaini Baha
Published: March 2023

These days, the vast amount of data generated on the Internet is a new treasure trove for investors. They can utilize text mining and sentiment analysis techniques to reflect investors’ confidence in specific stocks in order to make the most accurate decision. Most previous research just sums up the text sentiment score on each natural day and uses such aggregated score to predict various stock trends. However, the natural day aggregated score may not be useful in predicting different stock trends. Therefore, in this research, we designed two different time divisions: 0:00t∼0:00t+1 and 9:30t∼9:30t+1 to study how tweets and news from the different periods can predict the next-day stock trend. 260,000 tweets and 6,000 news from Service stocks (Amazon, Netflix) and Technology stocks (Apple, Microsoft) were selected to conduct the research. The experimental result shows that opening hours division (9:30t∼9:30t+1) outperformed natural hours division (0:00t∼0:00t+1).
Early detection of student degree-level academic performance using educational data mining
Authors: Meghji Areej Fatemah , Mahoto Naeem Ahmed , Asiri Yousef , Alshahrani Hani , Sulaiman Adel , Shaikh Asadullah
Published: March 2023

Higher educational institutes generate massive amounts of student data. This data needs to be explored in depth to better understand various facets of student learning behavior. The educational data mining approach has given provisions to extract useful and non-trivial knowledge from large collections of student data. Using the educational data mining method of classification, this research analyzes data of 291 university students in an attempt to predict student performance at the end of a 4-year degree program. A student segmentation framework has also been proposed to identify students at various levels of academic performance. Coupled with the prediction model, the proposed segmentation framework provides a useful mechanism for devising pedagogical policies to increase the quality of education by mitigating academic failure and encouraging higher performance. The experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed framework and the applicability of classifying students into multiple performance levels using a small subset of courses being taught in the initial two years of the 4-year degree program.
The effect of node features on GCN-based brain network classification: an empirical study
Authors: Wang Guangyu , Zhang Limei , Qiao Lishan
Published: March 2023

Brain functional network (BFN) analysis has become a popular technique for identifying neurological/mental diseases. Due to the fact that BFN is a graph, a graph convolutional network (GCN) can be naturally used in the classification of BFN. Different from traditional methods that directly use the adjacency matrices of BFNs to train a classifier, GCN requires an additional input-node features. To our best knowledge, however, there is no systematic study to analyze their influence on the performance of GCN-based brain disorder classification. Therefore, in this study, we conduct an empirical study on various node feature measures, including (1) original fMRI signals, (2) one-hot encoding, (3) node statistics, (4) node correlation, and (5) their combination. Experimental results on two benchmark databases show that different node feature inputs to GCN significantly affect the brain disease classification performance, and node correlation usually contributes higher accuracy compared to original signals and manually extracted statistical features.
Spatial heterogeneity in the exclusive use of hygienic materials during menstruation among women in urban India
Authors: Singh Aditya , Chakrabarty Mahashweta
Published: March 2023

Background

Menstrual hygiene is essential for women to live with dignity. However, a large proportion of Indian women still suffer from unhygienic menstrual practices leading to reproductive tract infections. To understand the socioeconomic and bio-demographic determinants of menstrual hygiene practices, various national or local level studies have been conducted in India and around the world, however, no previous study has tried to understand the spatial heterogeneity across Indian districts in the use of hygienic materials among young urban women.

Methods

This study used data from 54,561 urban women aged 15–24 from the National Family Health Survey-5. Global Moran’s I was applied to assess the degree of spatial autocorrelation and cluster and outlier analyses to locate hot-spots and clod-spots in the exclusive use of hygienic materials across the districts. Ordinary least square, spatial lag, and error models were used to identify determinants of exclusive use of hygienic materials.

Results

Approximately 66.8% of urban women exclusively use of hygienic materials which varied across districts. Global Moran’s I of 0.46 indicated positive spatial autocorrelation in the outcome. Cluster and outlier analysis revealed cold-spots in central Indian districts and hotspots in south Indian districts. Results of spatial error model identified women’s years of schooling, marital status, social group, and household wealth were major determinants of the exclusive use of hygienic materials among urban women across Indian districts.

Conclusion

Substantial spatial heterogeneity in the outcome among urban women in India suggests the need to design targeted and context-specific behavioural interventions and programs for women in urban India.
Artificial shelters and marine infectious disease: no detectable effect of the use of casitas to enhance juvenile Panulirus argus in shelter-poor habitats on a viral disease dynamics
Authors: Candia-Zulbarán Rebeca , Briones-Fourzán Patricia , Negrete-Soto Fernando , Barradas-Ortiz Cecilia , Lozano-Álvarez Enrique
Published: March 2023

Casitas, low-lying artificial shelters that mimic large crevices, are used in some fisheries for Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus). These lobsters are highly gregarious and express communal defense of the shelter. Scaled-down casitas have been shown to increase survival, persistence, and foraging ranges of juveniles. Therefore, the use of casitas has been suggested to help enhance local populations of juvenile P. argus in Caribbean seagrass habitats, poor in natural crevice shelters, in marine protected areas. Following the emergence of Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1), which is lethal to juveniles of P. argus, concern was raised about the potential increase in PaV1 transmission with the use of casitas. It was then discovered that lobsters tend to avoid shelters harboring diseased conspecifics, a behavior which, alone or in conjunction with predatory culling of diseased lobsters, has been proposed as a mechanism reducing the spread of PaV1. However, this behavior may depend on the ecological context (i.e., availability of alternative shelter and immediacy of predation risk). We conducted an experiment in a lobster nursery area to examine the effect of the use of casitas on the dynamics of the PaV1 disease. We deployed 10 scaled-down casitas per site on five 1-ha sites over a reef lagoon (casita sites) and left five additional sites with no casitas (control sites). All sites were sampled 10 times every 3–4 months. Within each site, all lobsters found were counted, measured, and examined for clinical signs of the PaV1 disease. Mean density and size of lobsters significantly increased on casita sites relative to control sites, but overall prevalence levels remained similar. There was no relationship between lobster density and disease prevalence. Dispersion parameters (m and k of the negative binomial distribution) revealed that lobsters tended to avoid sharing natural crevices, but not casitas, with diseased conspecifics. These results confirm that casitas provide much needed shelter in seagrass habitats and that their large refuge area may allow distancing between healthy and diseased lobsters. On eight additional sampling times over two years, we culled all diseased lobsters observed on casita sites. During this period, disease prevalence did not decrease but rather increased and varied with site, suggesting that other factors (e.g., environmental) may be influencing the disease dynamics. Using scaled-down casitas in shelter-poor habitats may help efforts to enhance juvenile lobsters for conservation purposes, but monitoring PaV1 prevalence at least once a year during the first few years would be advisable.
Lepidosperma prospectum (Cyperaceae), a new species from Sydney coastal heath and notes on usage of sword sedges
Authors: Barrett Russell L , Plunkett George T , Bruhl Jeremy J , Wilson Karen L
Published: March 2023

Lepidosperma prospectum G.T.Plunkett & R.L.Barrett (Cyperaceae tribe Schoeneae) is here described as a new species in the Sydney region of New South Wales. It is highly restricted in distribution, occurring at Manly (Sydney Harbour National Park), Kamay Botany Bay National Park and Royal National Park in dense coastal shrublands behind coastal cliffs. These locations are within the traditional lands of the Gamaragal, Gweagal and Dharawal people respectively. Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander were the first Europeans to explore the flora of New South Wales in 1770 around Botany Bay but they did not collect this species. Lepidosperma prospectum is superficially similar to L. sieberi Kunth, which occurs in adjacent habitats, but molecular data have shown that it is more closely allied to Western Australian species. A brief review of recorded indigenous and European knowledge and utilisation of the genus Lepidosperma Labill. is presented to highlight the varied uses of the genus.
Hornworts of Australia: Three New Anthoceros L. (Anthocerotaceae) Species from New South Wales.
Authors: Cargill D. Christine , Palsson Ruth
Published: March 2023

Three new species of Anthoceros sect. Fusiformes are described, all occurring on the North West Slopes and Plains of New South Wales and all sharing spore characteristics of a smooth unornamented strip either side of the triradiate mark on the proximal face. Illustrations and a distribution map are provided for all species, along with a key to Australian Anthocerotaceae.
Nomenclatural notes on New South Wales flannel flowers (Actinotus spp., Umbelliferae/Apiaceae) and Leopold Trattinnick’s other Australian plant-names
Authors: Mabberley David J , Lack Hans Walter , Henwood Murray J
Published: March 2023

After a thorough consideration of the history of the European collection and subsequent early cultivation of the commercial flannel flower, a lectotype is designated for Actinotus helianthi Labill. (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae) and the earliest publication (by Trattinnick in 1814) of A. minor (Sm.) Tratt. pinpointed. Other neglected names coined by Trattinnick, including generic ones, applied to Australian and other plants, and published on (generally) plagiarised plates, are discussed and disposed of. One such plate is a copy of the iconotype of Amaryllis × johnsoniana Ker Gawl., an earlier epithet for Hippeastrum × johnsonii (Gowen) Herb. (Amaryllidaceae), a bulbous plant long cultivated in Australia and whose name should be conserved with the later spelling. Attention is drawn to confusions in localities on labels attached to specimens of species (in various families) collected on both D’Entrecasteaux’s and Baudin’s voyages to Australia.
The family Calymperaceae (Bryophyta) in Australia. Part 4: The genus Calymperes
Authors: Seppelt Rod , Meagher David , Cairns Andi , Franks Andrew
Published: March 2023

Fifteen species of the moss genus Calymperes Sw. ex F.Weber are known from Australia. Each species is described and illustrated in detail, and a key to species and distribution maps are provided.
A new species of Rhodomyrtus (Myrtaceae) with brochidodromous venation from north-eastern Queensland, Australia.
Authors: Ford Andrew James , Wilson Peter G
Published: March 2023

Rhodomyrtus verecunda A.J.Ford & Peter G. Wilson from north-east Queensland, Australia, is formally described and illustrated. Notes on habitat, distribution and conservation status are provided, as are details of how it can be distinguished from R. macrocarpa, the only other species of the genus in the region that lacks acrodromous venation. A revised key to the species of Rhodomyrtus in Australia is also presented.
Syzygium nusatenggaraense (Myrtaceae), a new rainforest tree species with a calyptrate calyx from the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia
Authors: Sunarti Siti , Rugayah N/a , Low Yee Wen , Lucas Eve
Published: March 2023

A new rainforest tree species of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), Syzygium nusatenggaraense Sunarti & Y.W.Low is described here based on two collections from the Lesser Sunda Islands. This species is superficially similar to Syzygium arcanum P.S.Ashton, a Bornean endemic tree species, but differs in a suite of morphological characters and geographic distribution. The new species is illustrated, and description is here given.

Satu spesies pohon hutan hujan baru dari suku jambu-jambuan atau Myrtaceae, Syzygium nusatenggaraense Sunarti & Y.W.Low diterbitkan disini berdasarkan kepada dua koleksi dari Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara. Spesies ini mirip dengan satu spesies pohon endemik Borneo Syzygium arcanum P.S.Ashton, tetapi berbeda dalam rangkaian karakter morfologi dan distribusi geografisnya. Spesies baru tersebut diilustrasikan dan deskripsi diberikan di sini.
Diospyros venablesii W.E.Cooper (Ebenaceae), a new and endemic species from the Iron Range area, Cape York Peninsula
Authors: Cooper Wendy
Published: March 2023

Diospyros venablesii W.E.Cooper is described and illustrated with notes on habitat, distribution and how to distinguish it from the most similar species, Diospyros laurina.
A classification for edible citrus: an update, with a note on Murraya (Rutaceae)
Authors: Mabberley David J
Published: March 2023

In the light of the continuing threat of huanglongbing, an update of the author’s 1997 classification for edible citrus is presented and a new combination in Murraya J.Koenig is proposed.
Validation of Riccardia pseudodendroceros R.M.Schust. ex M.A.M.Renner (Aneuraceae: Marchantiophyta)
Authors: Renner Matthew AM
Published: March 2023

The name Riccardia pseudodendroceros R.M.Schust. ex M.A.M.Renner (Aneuraceae: Marchantiophyta) is validated.
Promoting Innovation and Practice of Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Course with Curriculum Civics as a Handle
Authors: Xiang Jian
Published: March 2023

This paper discusses the construction of Civics in the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course for computer science majors at the Zhejiang Institute of Science and Technology, taking into consideration the rapid development of AI technology and society's increasing demand for skilled computer professionals. The following suggestions are proposed: Firstly, the curriculum should be designed to strengthen the educational content of humanities and social sciences, in order to provide a well-rounded education that complements the technical skills taught in the course. Secondly, during the teaching process of the Introduction to AI course, classroom interaction should be promoted and students should be encouraged to express their personal views. Additionally, assessment of students' comprehensive ability should be emphasized since the application and development of AI technology requires individuals with high-quality comprehensive skills. Thirdly, in the assessment method, there should be a focus on students' innovation and teamwork abilities. Encouraging students to collaborate and innovate in solving practical problems is a crucial part of developing their skills in AI technology. Through the implementation of the above suggestions, students' awareness and understanding of AI technology can be improved, while also enhancing their ability to think critically and problem-solve effectively.
Study on Electrophysical Properties in KMnO4-Doped Grade "Xorazm-150" Cotton Fibers
Authors: Mamadalimov A. T. , Khakimova N. K. , Norbekov Sh. M. , Nazarov F.
Published: March 2023

The main objective of the research was to identify the semiconducting characteristics of mature medium-thick (diameter 14, 15 µm) "Xorazm-150" cotton fibers both undoped and doped with 1.5% aqueous solution of KMnO4, including current versus voltage and temperature dependence, temperature dependence of electrical conductivity, the influence of doping time on conductivity, and photoconductivity. The research was conducted in the temperature range (296-360 K) and the voltage range (0-100 V). The infrared spectra of the undoped and KMnO4-doped samples were studied (Both samples were mercilized with NaOH). It was found that the cotton fibers sample doped with KMnO4 had considerably higher electrical conductivity than the undoped sample. It was determined that the cotton fibers sample doped with KMnO4 obeys the law of Ohm when current flows through it. Also, it was analyzed that the formation of photoconductivity of the cotton fibers sample doped with KMnO4 under the influence of ultraviolet radiation indicates that the photoconductivity is mainly related to the formation of band electron-hole pairs. The deep surface created by doping cotton fibers with a 1.5% solution of KMnO4 in water was found to have an activation energy that was determined from the results.
Heamatological Parameters in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Attending Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital Okada, Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Mitsan Olley , Sule Zekeri , Erhamwonyi Aghatise Kevin , Clement Osaiyuwu Osarenren , Okwu Maureen Uchechukwu , Osayomwanbo Aiyanyor David , Uyi Igiebor Clive
Published: March 2023

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period, and if untreated could lead to complications. This study, carried out at the Igbinedion university teaching hospital Okada to ascertain some hematological parameters, using 69 known diabetes patients who enrolled as an Out-patient in the General Out- Patient Department and 69 non- diabetes apparently healthy individuals as control. Thirty- nine of these diabetic individuals were female, while thirty were male individuals. For the non- diabetic individuals, thirty- seven were female, and thirty-two were male representing 53.6% and 46.4% respectively. Ethical approval from the institution was sought prior to commencement of study and quality control of reagents was strictly maintained. Five millilitres of whole blood was collected into an Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulated bottle, and haematological parameters including PCV, HB, WBC, RBC,MCV, MCH, MCHC and platelet count were conducted for all individuals. Result obtained for Diabetic individuals   showed a mean value of 34.63, 11.24, 4.41, 7.20 and 204.27 for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC and platelets counts respectively, while for non-diabetic individuals, a mean value of 35.04, 10.09, 3.99, 7.07 and 262.56 respectively.Hb concentration and RBC count were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The Red cell indices, MCV and MCHC, were statistically significant. This study showed a statistically significant variation in some hematological parameters of diabetic patients compared to control group .Low platelet count and alteration to red cell morphology as indicated in values of MCV and MCHC among diabetic patients are indicators of thrombotic potential. Hence, routine screening of hematological parameters should be considered for proper management of diabetic patients.
Designing a Mobile Game Based on Augmented Reality Application for Learning Media
Authors: Suratno Antonius , Nugroho Erdhi Widyarto
Published: March 2023

Designing games for educational purposes needs to consider various aspects that help lead to the making of a good game. This study aims to describe users’ responses towards the potential of the game for blended learning, the design stages and the trial which encompass pre-design input taking, design stages, trial, and evaluation. The inputs from the pre-design stage have been the basis for the media design; the trial stage inputs from the prospective users and two experts provide feedback for the validity of media both in content and construct aspects. The research subjects involved 100 Junior high school students, 5 English language teachers, and 1 game design expert. The tools of data collection are questionnaire and semi-structured interview which were developed by the researchers. The intended subject for which this game is designed is reading comprehension and the study is planned to be conducted in approximately eight months. Both types of feedback were used to evaluate the readiness of the media for the real use for blended learning model. The results showed that the validity in content and construct aspects were both very good. The trial result also suggests that the game is considered a decent product, attractive and easy to use for independent learning. Thus, the final evaluation suggests that the media is readily usable for the real context of blended learning.
Induction by recombinant human granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor of differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemic M1 cells
Authors: Tomida Mikio , Yamamoto-Yamaguchi Yuri , Hozumi Motoo , Okabe Tetsuro , Takaku Fumimaro
Published: July 2002

The effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) on induction of differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemic M1 cells was examined. Purified G‐CSF caused dose‐dependent induction of phagocytic activity and lysozyme activity in M1 cells. Its half‐maximally effective concentration was 10 ng/ml. On treatment of M1 cells with G‐CSF (100 ng/ml) for 4 days, 30–50% of the cells differentiated morphologically into macrophage cells; 30–40% of the cells were blast cells and 20–30% of the cells were forms intermediate between blastic cells and mature macrophages.
Acute nephrotoxicity of a carcinogenic iron chelate Selective inhibition of a proteolytic conversion of α2U‐globulin to the kidney fatty acid‐binding protein
Authors: Uchida Koji , Fukuda Aya , Kawakishi Shunro , Toyokuni Shinya , Hiai Hiroshi , Ikeda Saiko , Horio Fumihiko
Published: July 2002

The mechanism of acute nephrotoxicity of an iron chelate in vivo has been investigated. Administration of a renal carcinogen ferric nitrolotriacetate (Fe‐NTA) (15 mg Fe/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) led to selective loss of a renal protein with an apparent molecular mass of 17 kDa. Analysis of the 17 kDa protein by NH2‐terminal sequence demonstrated its identity over 16 NH2‐terminal residues as a kidney fatty acid‐binding protein (k‐FABP) that is a proteolytically modified form of α
2U‐globulin, a major urinary protein of adult male rats. An immunochemical study using anti‐α
2U‐globulin polyclonal antibodies confirmed that a single injection of Fe‐NTA led to a decrease in k‐FABP levels. However, a 19‐kDa protein identical to the α
2U‐globulin progressively appeared in the kidney, suggesting that the proteolytic processing of α
2U‐globulin in the renal proximal tubules was suppressed by the treatment with Fe‐NTA. By monitoring k‐FABP and its precursor α
2U‐globulin, it was determined that repeated exposure to Fe‐NTA caused suppression of both proteolytic and endocytotic activity of the kidney. The implications of these data in relation to the nephrotoxicity of Fe‐NTA are discussed.
An estimation of minimal genome size required for life
Authors: Itaya Mitsuhiro
Published: July 2002

The number of indispensable chromosomal loci for a bacterium, Bacillus subtilis was estimated. Seventy‐nine randomly selected chromosomal loci were investigated by mutagenesis. Mutation at only six loci rendered B. subtilis unable to form colonies. In contrast, mutants for the rest of the 73 loci retained the ability to form colonies. Mutant B. subtilis with multiple‐fold mutations of those dispensable loci (7‐, 12‐ or 33‐fold) were not impaired in their ability to form colonies on nutritionally adequate medium, indicating that up to 33 dispensable loci were simultaneously abolished. Given the statistical analyses for the frequency of indispensable loci (6 out of 79), total indispensable genetic material would be included within about 562 kbp. The hypothetical minimum genome size lies in the range of those currently determined smallest genomes for bacteria.
Expression and functional properties of the second predicted nucleotide binding fold of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator fused to
Authors: Randak Christoph , Roscher Adelbert A. , Hadorn Hans-Beat , Assfalg-Machleidt Irmgard , Auerswald Ennes A. , Machleidt Werner
Published: July 2002

CFTR‐NBF‐2 was expressed in Escherichia coli in fusion with glutathione‐S‐transferase, the soluble portion was purified and identified as a stuctured protein by its CD spectrum. Association reactions of the recombinant NBF‐2 with adenine nucleotides were monitored qualitatively by demonstrating its ability to bind specifically to ATP‐, ADP‐ and AMP‐affinity agarose and quantitatively by recording the fluorescence enhancement of excited trinitrophenol (TNP)‐labelled adenine nucleotides occuring as a result of binding to NBF‐2. Best‐fit monophasic binding curves to the fluorescence data indicated K
d values of 22 μM for TNP‐ATP, 39 μM for TNP‐ ADP and 2.1 μM for TNP‐AMP. The corrected K values for unlabelled adenine nucleotides competing with the fluorophores were determined to be 37 μM for ATP, 92 μM for ADP and 12 μM for AMP. The recombinant NBF‐2 did not show any hydrolytic activity on ATP (detection limit 0.001 s'). Our findings support the concept of a central role of NBF‐2 in CFTR activity regulation acting as an allosteric switch between channel opening and closing and give the first experimental evidence that the channel inhibitor AMP could act via NBF‐2.
From triple cysteine mutants to the cysteine‐less glucose transporter GLUT1: a functional analysis
Authors: Wellner Maren , Monden Ingrid , Keller Konrad
Published: July 2002

Two triple cysteine mutants containing Cys‐less N‐ or C‐terminal halves and the Cys‐less GLUT1 were generated by site‐directed mutagenesis. Following expression in Xenopus oocytes, the intrinsic transport activities of the multiple cysteine mutants were slightly decreased when either the cysteine residues of the C‐terminal half or all six residues were changed; substitution of serine for cysteine residues located at the N‐terminal half was without consequence for the catalytic activity. The exofacial ligand ethylidene glucose inhibited 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose uptake of wild‐type and Cys‐less GLUT1‐expressing Xenopus oocytes with comparable half‐saturation constants (11.5 and 13.2 mM). However, each of the multiple cysteine mutants exhibited an increase in affinity for the endofacial inhibitor cytochalasin B, with the greatest effect being observed for the Cys‐less construct (decrease in K
i by the factor 5–6).
A peptide that mimics the carboxy‐terminal domain of SNAP‐25 blocks Ca2+‐dependent exocytosis in chromaffin cells
Authors: Gutiérrez Luis M. , Cánaves Jaume M. , Ferrer-Montiel Antonio V. , Reig Juan A. , Montal Mauricio , Viniegra Salvador
Published: July 2002

SNAP‐25, a synaptosomal associated membrane protein of 25 kDa, participates in the presynaptic process of vesicle‐plasma membrane fusion that results in neurotransmitter release at central nervous system synapses. SNAP‐25 occurs in neuroendocrine cells and, in analogy to its role in neurons, has been implicated in catecholamine secretion, yet the nature of the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Here we use an anti‐SNAP‐25 monoclonal antibody to show that SNAP‐25 is localized at the cytosolic surface of the plasma membrane of chromaffin cells. This antibody inhibited the Ca2+‐evoked catecholamine release from digitonin‐permeabilized chromaffin cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Remarkably, a 20‐mer synthetic peptide representing the sequence of the C‐terminal domain of SNAP‐25 blocked Ca2+‐dependent catecholamine release with an IC50 = 20 μM. The inhibitory activity of the peptide was sequence‐specific as evidenced by the inertness of a control peptide with the same amino acid composition but random order. The C‐terminal segment of SNAP‐25, therefore, plays a key role in regulating Ca2+‐dependent exocytosis, presumably mediated via interactions with other protein components of the fusion complex.
Differential effects of maitotoxin on calcium entry and ciliary beating in the rabbit ciliated tracheal epithelium
Authors: Venant Annick , Dazy Anne‐Catherine , Diogène Georges , Marano Francelyne
Published: July 2002

Summary— The marine toxin maitotoxin (MTX) induces stimulation of ciliary beating in primary cultures of rabbit tracheal epithelial cells. The response is time‐ and concentration‐dependent. External calcium is an absolute requirement, although at a very low concentration (50 μM for maximal effect). Pretreatment of the cells with MTX induces an early (5 min) and sustained (≥ 24 h) homologous desensitization. The response to MTX is strongly inhibited by trifluoperazin (an inhibitor of Ca‐calmodulin‐dependent enzymes) and by chelation of [Ca]i with BAPTA. However, the magnitude and kinetics of [Ca]i rise elicited by MTX do not correlate with those of the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) increase: the CBF increase is transient (with a peak at 5–10 min) while the [Ca]i rise is sustained; the CBF increase occurs at concentrations of MTX which are without an effect on [Ca]i; the CBF increase is not inhibited by 200 μM verapamil, genistein or okadaic acid, which inhibit the MTX‐induced [Ca]i rise. The CBF increase is strongly inhibited by antagonists of arachidonic acid metabolism, mepacrine and nordiguaiaretic acid. However, MTX does not stimulate cAMP synthesis. These results suggest that calcium is not the only factor involved in the biological effects of MTX and even suggest that MTX may primarily stimulate phospholipid breakdown in the cell membrane.
Phosphorylation‐dependent activation of TAK1 mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinase by TAB1
Authors: Sakurai Hiroaki , Miyoshi Hidetaka , Mizukami Junko , Sugita Takahisa
Published: July 2002

TAK1 is a mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) that is involved in the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase/p38 MAPKs and NF‐κB signaling pathways. Here, we characterized the molecular mechanisms of TAK1 activation by its specific activator TAB1. Autophosphorylation of two threonine residues in the activation loop of TAK1 was necessary for TAK1 activation. Association with TAK1 and induction of TAK1 autophosphorylation required the C‐terminal 24 amino acids of TAB1, but full TAK1 activation required additional C‐terminal Ser/Thr rich sequences. These results demonstrated that the association between the kinase domain of TAK1 and the C‐terminal TAB1 triggered the phosphorylation‐dependent TAK1 activation mechanism.
Role of fibroblast growth factor‐2 in human brain: a focus on development
Authors: Gremo Fulvia , Presta Marco
Published: July 2002

Trophic factors have gained a great degree of attention as regulators of neural cells proliferation and differentiation as well as of brain maturation. Very little is known, however, about their effects on human immature nervous system. In this paper, data on expression of fibroblast‐growth factor‐2 and its receptors are reviewed and discussed in the light of its possible role in human brain development.
Utilization of an Alternative Carbon Source for Efficient Production of Human α1‐Antitrypsin by Genetically Engineered Rice Cell Culture
Authors: Terashima Masaaki , Ejiri Yoko , Hashikawa Naohiro , Yoshida Hiroyuki
Published: July 2002

Human α1‐antitrypsin was produced by genetically engineered rice cells using promoter and signal peptide of a rice α‐amylase isozyme. Batch and continuous cultures were employed to investigate the effects of alternative carbon sources on the α1‐antitrypsin production. While this expression system is inducible by sugar depletion, we have found that the productivity of α1‐antitrypsin increased 2.4‐ to 3.4‐fold, compared with the control medium without carbon source, in medium containing an alternative carbon source, such as pyruvic acid and glyoxylic acid. The accumulated α1‐antitrypsin in the medium containing pyruvic acid reached 18.2−24.2 mg/g‐dry cell in 50−70 h by batch culture.
Kinetics and Stability of GM‐CSF Production by Recombinant Yeast Cells Immobilized in a Fibrous‐Bed Bioreactor
Authors: Yang Shang‐Tian , Shu Chin‐Hang
Published: July 2002

The continuous production of murine granulocyte−macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) by recombinant yeast cells immobilized in a fibrous‐bed bioreactor was studied. A high cell density of ∼68 g/L and a GM‐CSF productivity of ∼3.5 mg/L·h were attained in the fibrous‐bed bioreactor fed with a rich (nonselective, pH 6.7) medium at a dilution rate of 0.16 h−1. The GM‐CSF production was stable even though the fraction of plasmid‐carrying cells in the reactor effluent gradually dropped below 5% over a period of 2 weeks. At the end of that period, the immobilized cells in the fibrous matrix still had a high fraction, ∼26%, of plasmid‐carrying cells. Similar results were obtained with reactors operated at 0.05 h−1 dilution rate and pH 4.0. Although the GM‐CSF production was lower at pH 4, the reactor was stably operated for over 4 weeks without contamination or significant loss of productivity. The stable long‐term GM‐CSF production from the fibrous‐bed bioreactor was attributed to the effect of cell immobilization on plasmid stability. Because GM‐CSF production was growth‐associated, as was found in batch fermentation with free cells, this stabilization effect cannot be attributed solely to the reduced cell growth in the immobilized cell environment. Plasmid‐carrying cells were preferentially retained in the fibrous matrix, perhaps because their abilities to adhere to the fiber surface and to form cell aggregates were higher than those of plasmid‐free cells.
Stabilization of Active Recombinant Retroviruses in an Amorphous Dry State with Trehalose
Authors: Bieganski Robert M. , Fowler Alex , Morgan Jeffrey R. , Toner Mehmet
Published: July 2002

The disaccharide trehalose is found to be effective for stabilization of active recombinant retroviruses in an amorphous dry state achieved through ambient‐temperature vacuum dehydration of retroviral supernatants. Studies revealed that trehalose is a significantly better desiccation protectant than sucrose, glucose, and dextran: dextran has essentially no protective effect on retroviral survival after drying and rehydration. X‐ray diffractometry of the retroviral supernatant dried with trehalose demonstrated its amorphous nature. The ability to dehydrate retroviral stocks at ambient temperatures into a stable glassy state will have a profound effect for researchers and commercial biotechnology companies which supply retroviral vectors for human gene therapy and basic research.
Low molecular weight dextran sulfate prevents complement activation and delays hyperacute rejection in pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation models
Authors: Fiorante Patrizia , Banz Yara , Mohacsi Paul J. , Kappeler Andreas , Wuillemin Walter A. , Macchiarini Paolo , Roos Anja , Daha Mohamed R. , Schaffner Thomas , Haeberli André , Mazmanian G. Michel , Rieben Robert
Published: July 2002

Abstract: Dextran sulfate of 5000 molecular weight (DXS 5000) is known to block complement activation as well as the intrinsic coagulation cascade by potentiation of C1 inhibitor. The effect of DXS 5000 on hyperacute rejection (HAR) was tested in pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation models. For in vitro testing, a cytotoxicity assay was used with the pig kidney cell line PK15 as target cells and fresh, undiluted human serum as antibody and complement source. Ex vivo pig lung perfusion was chosen to assess DXS 5000 in a physiologic model. Pig lungs were perfused with fresh, citrate‐anticoagulated whole human blood to which 1 or 2 mg/ml DXS 5000 were added; the lungs were ventilated and the blood de‐oxygenated. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and blood oxygenation (ΔpO2) were monitored throughout the experiment. Autologous pig blood and human blood without DXS 5000 served as controls. In the PK15 assay DXS 5000 led to a complete, dose‐dependent inhibition of human serum cytotoxicity with an average IC50 of 43 ± 18 µg/ml (n = 8). Pig lungs perfused with untreated human blood (n = 2) underwent HAR within 105 ± 64 min, characterized by increased PVR, decrease of ΔpO2, and generalized edema. Microscopically, capillary bleeding as well as deposition of human antibodies, complement and fibrin could be observed. Addition of DXS 5000 (n = 4) prolonged lung survival to 170 ± 14 min for 1 mg/ml and 250 ± 42 min for 2 mg/ml, and PVR values as well as edema formation were comparable to control lungs that were perfused with autologous pig blood (n = 2). Activation of complement (activation products in serum, deposition on lung tissue) and the coagulation system (fibrin monomers) were significantly diminished as compared to human blood without DXS 5000. Binding of anti‐Gal antibodies was not influenced, and in vitro experiments showed no evidence of complement depletion by DXS 5000. In conclusion, DXS 5000 is an efficient complement inhibitor in pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation models and therefore a candidate for complement‐inhibitory/anti‐inflammatory therapy – either alone or in combination with other substances – and warrants further investigation.
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the breast detected by screening
Authors: Schroën A M A , Wobbes Th , van der Sluis R F
Published: July 2002

Background

This study was a retrospective analysis of all patients with invasive lobular breast cancer who presented to the University Hospital Nijmegen between 1980 and 1990, with follow-up to December 1992. A comparison was made between the invasive lobular carcinomas detected by breast cancer screening and those detected outside the screening project.

Methods

The total number of patients with breast cancer during this interval was 937, of whom 136 (14·5 per cent) had pure infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC). Breast cancer screening identified a total of 158 patients with infiltrating breast carcinoma of whom 20 (12·7 per cent) had ILC. Outside the screening programme a total of 116 patients with ILC were diagnosed during the same interval.

Results

The 2- and 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rate in the screen-detected group was 100, 100 and 89 per cent respectively. For the group outside the screening programme this was 88·4, 74·3 and 72·5 per cent respectively (P = 0·04). No patient in the screen-detected group died from breast cancer during follow-up, whereas the 2- and 5- and 10-year breast cancer survival rate for the group detected outside the screening programme was 96·5, 89·1 and 70·6 per cent respectively (P = 0·06).

Conclusion

Between 10 and 15 per cent of patients with invasive lobular breast cancer can be detected by breast screening. These patients have a favourable outcome compared with those who have ILC detected outside the screening programme.