bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-site Utvärdering och Forskning
Authors: Mullen Edward
Published: October 2020

Svensk översättning av "Multi-site Evaluation and Research". Denna artikel undersöker multi-site utvärdering och forskning och anger hur denna skiljer sig från single-site forskning och utvärdering. Författaren visar på olika former och typer av multi-site forskning för att illustrera varierande tillämpningar. Artikeln presenterar exempel på multi-site forskning som utförts i USA, på nationell nivå, med referens till mentalhälsoservice och behandling av alkoholmissbruk. Ytterligare exempel är hämtade från mentalhälsovård, barnavård och praktiskt socialt arbete och den forskning som utförts vid  Center for the Study of Social Work Practice in New York City.  Fördelar och nackdelar med multi-site forskning diskuteras liksom förslag på hur forskningen ska genomföras.
Socialbidragstagande och statusbunden skamkänsla – En prövning av ekonomi - sociala band modellen
Authors: Starrin Bengt , Kalander Blomkvist Marina , Janson Staffan
Published: October 2020

I den här artikeln studeras skam och skamrelaterade känslor bland socialbidragstagare. Det görs i ljuset av den s.k. ekonomi-sociala band modellen som i sig fogar samman två vetenskapliga framställningar om skam. Den ekonomiska sidan beaktar den sida som knyter skam och skamrelaterade känslor till bl.a. fattigdom.  Den sida som handlar om sociala band förbinder skam och skamrelaterade känslor med kvaliteten i de sociala relationerna.
De sociala kartläggarna och hemlöshetsfrågan
Authors: Swärd Hans
Published: October 2020

I beskrivningar av svensk välfärd under de senaste hundra åren finns det skäl att uppmärksamma hemlöshetsfrågan. I folkhemsbygget blev hemmet en symbol för det goda livet, och de hemlösas situation har ofta ansetts kunna tydliggöra luckor i välfärdens utveckling. I artikeln ges exempel på hur svensk hemlöshet har beskrivits på fattig- respektive välfärdssamhällets tid.
Klass, kön och etnicitet i den sociala barnavården
Authors: Lundström Tommy , Sallnäs Marie
Published: October 2020

Denna artikel tar utgångspunkt i ett socialpolitiskt perspektiv och analyserar hur barnavårdsproblem över tid kopplats till klass, kön och etnicitet. Hur har dessa faktorer behandlats i officiella texter om barnavård under 1900talet och hur framstår de i offentlig statistik?
Kunskapens värde och samhällets behov
Authors: Bäck-Wiklund Margareta
Published: October 2020

Socialt arbete som begrep användes ursprungligen vid förra seklet 1900 i samband med att Centralförbundet för Socialt Arbete (CSA) bildades. Utbildningen av socialarbetare kom snabbt igång genom CSA:s initiativ, och grunden lades för en ny yrkesgrupp. Men det tog 70 år att få forskning i direkt anslutning till utbildningen. Under århundradet har olika dimensioner adderats till innebörden av socialt arbete. De är uttryck för såväl specifika kunskapsintressen som samhälleliga behov.
Hinder och möjligheter för forskningsresultats användning – förslag till en analytisk modell
Authors: Kullberg Christian
Published: October 2020

Utgångspunkt för artikeln är resultat från sådan forskning som problematiserar förhållandet mellan forskningen och dess användare, samt teorier om vilka former för att informera och samarbeta som är gynnsamma för forskningsanvändning. På basis av sådan forskning presenteras en analytisk modell som syftar till att systematisera förståelsen av hinder och möjligheter i samarbete och samverkan mellan forskningen och användarna. Modellen redogörs för genom att åskådliggöra potentiella kontroverser mellan användare och forskning med anknytning till regionala FoU-verksamheter inriktade på socialt arbete.
Kroniskt trötthetssyndrom, ﬁbromyalgi och risken att bli stigmatiserad
Authors: Närvänen Anna-Liisa , Åsbring Pia
Published: October 2020

25 kvinnor med kroniskt trötthetssyndrom respektive ﬁbromyalgi har intervjuats i syfte att undersöka om de upplever att sjukdomarna kan vara stigmatiserande för dem. Stigma beskrevs i synnerhet förekomma före det att diagnosen fastställts och vara relaterad till den osäkerhet som sjukdomarna är förknippade med.
Övergrepp mot äldre i två perspektiv
Authors: Jönsson Håkan
Published: October 2020

Hur ska man förstå problemet övergrepp mot äldre? Vilka är orsakerna, vem är typiskt sett offret och vad ska man göra åt problemet? I artikeln diskuteras två perspektiv som med olika utgångspunkter givit svar på dessa frågor.
Forskning om konsumtionsvillkor för hushåll med knapp ekonomi – ett svagt utvecklat fält
Authors: Hjort Torbjörn
Published: October 2020

I denna artikel diskuteras och problematiseras nordisk forskning med inriktning mot konsumtion och fattigdom. Då forskningen inom detta fält förekommer inom ﬂera vetenskapliga discipliner beskrivs några centrala perspektiv. Härefter problematiseras beﬁntlig forskning, såväl i förhållande till dess innehåll som till dess hitintills svaga etablering. Vidare ges förslag på utvecklingsmöjligheter.
Att vara pappa i homofamiljer – berättelser om barn, mammor och familjeliv
Authors: Zetterqvist Nelson Karin
Published: October 2020

Den här artikeln handlar om faderskapets betydelse och utformning i planerade homosexuella familjer, s.k. regnbågsfamiljer. Två skilda sätt att tala om rollen som pappa har kunnat urskiljas. I båda sätten bryter man mot den heteronormativitet som genomsyrar familje- och föräldradiskurser, där föräldraskap ses som en konsekvens av heterosexuell tvåsamhet. Vad som skiljer dem åt är i vad mån man utmanar den genusordning som reglerar synen på kvinnligt och manligt i relation till föräldraskap.
Barnavårdsinsatser – en studie av kommunala skillnader
Authors: Wiklund Stefan
Published: October 2020

Omfattningen av barnavårdsinsatser skiljer sig påtagligt mellan olika kommuner. I den här artikeln eftersöks förklaringar till dessa skillnader hos kommunernas strukturella villkor, anmälningsfrekvenser samt bland faktorer inom den organisatoriska kontext vari insatserna förmedlas. Studien baseras till stora delar på data från det så kallade individ- och familjeomsorgsprojektet, där företrädare för barnavården har intervjuats i 100 svenska kommuner.
Boende och stöd – En nationell inventering av kommunernas boendeinsatser för utsatta grupper
Authors: Blid Mats
Published: October 2020

Artikeln redovisar en nationell inventering av boendeinsatser för människor som av olika orsaker saknar stabilitet i sitt boende. Med boendeinsatser avses både personella stödinsatser i hemmet och erbjudanden om olika fysiska boendemiljöer. Insatserna studeras utifrån olika karaktäristika och utifrån de övergripande dimensionerna normalitet och omsorg.
Välfärdens utveckling efter 1990-talets kris
Authors: Bergmark Åke , Fritzell Johan
Published: October 2020

.
Diskriminering och exkludering. En introduktion
Authors: Sahlin Ingrid , Machado Nora
Published: October 2020

.
En motsättning mellan två principer om likabehandling? Om rätten att välja personlig assistent
Authors: Calleman Catharina
Published: October 2020

De funktionshindrades rätt till självbestämmande när de väljer personlig assistent kan riskera att komma i konflikt med assistenternas rätt att inte bli diskriminerade. Problematiken kan tänkas få ökande betydelse med ett ökat anlitande av personliga assistenter och särskilt med en ökad internationalisering av marknaden för vård och omsorg.
Att urskilja allianser för att hantera osäkerhet
Authors: Flisbäck Marita
Published: October 2020

I artikeln undersöks tecken som intervjuade målsägande, tilltalade och vittnen  berättar att de tagit till intäkt för att allianser uppkommit under brottmålsrättegång. Urskiljandet av allianser och intervjupersonernas förklaringar till dessa, i termer av klass, kön, ras och sexualitet, tolkas som strategier för att hantera osäkra bedömningssituationer.
Efter eget skön: om beslutsfattande i professionellt arbete
Authors: Molander Anders
Published: October 2020

Denna artikel skiljer mellan en strukturell och en epistemisk förståelse av skön (discretion): å ena sidan skön som ett handlingsutrymme, å andra sidan skön som resonerande om vad som bör göras under betingelser av obestämdhet. Artikeln analyserar skön i epistemisk mening och identifierar några av dess problematiska aspekter.
Inledning till studier av professioner och professionellt arbete
Authors: Svensson Lennart G.
Published: October 2020

.
Hur bra fungerar SAMSområdena i studier av grannskapseffekter? En studie av SAMSområdenas homogenitet
Authors: Amcoff Jan
Published: October 2020

År 1994 lanserades SAMS-indelningen som alltsedan dess har använts i svenska studier av grannskapseffekter. Här visas att dessa områden inte är så homogena som det ibland förutsätts eller som de skulle kunna vara och att indelningen ser olika ut i olika kommuner. Förklaringar till den bristande homogeniteten söks i städers morfologi och indelningens tillkomsthistoria.
Kön, sexualitet och socialt arbete – återblick på ingången till ett forskningsfält
Authors: Månsson Sven-Axel
Published: October 2020

.
Om medikaliseringen av svensk missbrukarvård
Authors: Bergmark Anders
Published: October 2020

Under de senaste 10 åren har propåerna om en radikal omorganisering av svensk missbrukarvård vuxit sig allt starkare. Den allmänna inriktningen hos dessa påtryckningar har utgjorts av en medikalisererande argumentation beträffande den vetenskapliga kunskapen om missbruk och behandling: I denna artikel granskas några av medikaliseringsdiskursens mest centrala argument.
Internationellt socialt arbete – Definitioner och perspektivval i historisk belysning
Authors: Righard Erica
Published: October 2020

Internationellt socialt arbete röner idag allt mer uppmärksamhet. Det finns emellertid inte någon enhetlig syn på vad som utgör internationellt socialt arbete. Denna artikel bidrar med en historisk genomgång av vilka antaganden olika definitioner utgår från och vilka konsekvenserna av dessa perspektivval är.
Institutionella villkor för mediehantering – en jämförande kartläggning mellan socialtjänst, skola och polis
Authors: Enbom Jesper , Sjöström Stefan , Öhman Adam
Published: October 2020

För offentliga organisationer kan mediers granskning uppfattas som problematisk. Representanter för socialtjänstorganisationer har i flera uppmärksammade fall framstått som handfallna när de konfronterats med medier. Under senare år har offentliga organisationer kommit att utveckla mer professionella mediestrategier. Artikeln rapporterar resultat från en nationellt representativ enkät om mediehantering inom socialtjänst, skola och polis.
Ledare (Från redaktionen)
Authors: Johansson Stina , Sjöström Stefan , Andersson Katarina
Published: October 2020

-
Biståndshandläggare om möten med sent-i-livet-invandrade äldre – inblick i hur en institutionell kategori skapas
Authors: Torres Sandra , Olaison Anna , Forssell Emilia
Published: October 2020

Care managers on need assessment with late-in-life immigrants: insights into how an institutional category is created Research on the implications of cross-cultural interaction for needs assessment practice is scarce. This is particularly the case when it comes to research on care management within elderly care. There is therefore a need to explore the ways in which care managers regard and experience cross-cultural interaction when assessing older people’s needs prior to granting access to elderly care services. This article is based on a project that aimed to explore just that through focus group interviews with care managers (n=60) who work within the context of Swedish elderly care. The analysis presented here addresses the ways through which an institutional category is created as care managers discuss the kind of cross-cultural interaction that they find the most challenging (which is the one involving older people who migrated late, do not speak Swedish and come from cultures that are deemed to be too different). The analysis discloses the underlying assumptions about Otherness that the care managers alluded to when sharing their views on, and experiences of, assessing needs by way of cross-cultural interaction with late-in-life immigrants. The article discusses the implications that these findings have for care management practice in Sweden considering that the legislation dictates that care managers need to attend to older people’s “uniqueness”. The analysis reveals that the uniqueness associated with certain client categories is too unique to cater for
Etnicitet: ett engagerande men delikat samtalsstoff – brottsutsatta unga mäns återberättade erfarenheter
Authors: Åkerström Malin , Burcar Alm Veronika
Published: October 2020

Ethnicity: an involving topic demanding expressive caution – Young male crime victim’s narrativesThis article analyses some young men’s specific ways of retelling victims’ experience when the perpetrators have an immigrant background. In qualitative interviews with twenty young med, fear of being seen as intolerant was distinguished by their expressive caution. This involved using various aligning actions: presenting disclaimers and accounts, but also in terms of hesitant speak, re-takes and throat clearing, and in some case refraining to talk about the attackers or robbers’ ethnic background. Even if the subject was delicate, it was engaging. The topic of ethnicity associated with crime is used as a resource in several ways: to present oneself as a tolerant person (sometimes in contrast to others having the same experiences) but also as a truth-teller who criticizes what men describe as a societally prescribed way of discussing these matters publicly.
Characterization of Nutrient Disorders and Impacts on Chlorophyll and Anthocyanin Concentration of Brassica rapa var. Chinensis
Authors: Veazie Patrick , Cockson Paul , Henry Josh , Perkins-Veazie Penelope , Whipker Brian
Published: October 2020

Essential plant nutrients are needed at crop-specific concentrations to obtain optimal growth and yield. Foliar tissue analysis is the standard method for assessing nutrient levels in plants. Symptoms of nutrient deficiency or toxicity occur when the foliar tissue values become too low or high. Diagnostic nutrient deficiency criteria for Brassica rapa var. Chinensis (bok choy) is lacking in the current literature. In this study, green (‘Black Summer’) and purple (‘Red Pac’) bok choy plants were grown in silica sand culture, with control plants receiving a complete modified Hoagland’s all-nitrate solution, and nutrient-deficient plants induced by using a complete nutrient formula withholding a single nutrient. Tissue samples were collected at the first sign of visual disorder symptoms and analyzed for dry weight and nutrient concentrations of all plant essential elements. Six weeks into the experiment, the newest matured leaves were sampled for chlorophyll a, b, and total carotenoids concentrations for both cultivars, and total anthocyanin concentration in ‘Red Pac’. Compared to control plants, the dry weight of ‘Black Summer’ green bok choy was significantly lower for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), or boron (B) deficiency treatments, and nutrient concentrations were lower for all variables except iron (Fe) deficiency. Dry weight was less in ‘Red Pac’ plants grown without N, potassium (K), Ca, B, or molybdenum (Mo), and nutrient concentrations were lower for all except Mo-deficiency compared to controls. Total chlorophyll and total carotenoid concentrations were lower in leaves from N−, Fe-, and manganese- (Mn) deficient plants of both cultivars. Leaf anthocyanin concentration was lower only for K-, Ca-, and B-deficiencies in ‘Red Pac’. Our results indicate that visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency are well correlated with nutrient disorders. In contrast, changes in dry weight, chlorophyll, and anthocyanin did not show consistent changes across nutrient disorders.
On the Road to End Pig Pain: Knowledge and Attitudes of Brazilian Citizens Regarding Castration
Authors: Hötzel Maria José , Yunes Maria Cristina , Vandresen Bianca , Albernaz-Gonçalves Rita , Woodroffe Raphaela E.
Published: October 2020

We explored the attitudes of Brazilians towards different methods to deal with boar taint in pork (surgical castration without pain control, SC; surgical castration with pain control, SC+PC; immunocastration, IC; raising entire males, EM). Two surveys (Sv1, n = 441 and Sv2, n = 768) containing closed and open questions were conducted. Nearly 70% of Sv1 and Sv2 participants were unaware that meat of entire males may have boar taint and that SC is widely used in pig production in Brazil. In Sv1, acceptability of SC+PC (63%) and IC (53%) was greater than of SC (15%). In Sv2, acceptability of IC (55%) and EM (52%) was greater than of SC (18%). Open-ended responses indicated that participants objected to inflicting pain to pigs to attain a production goal, and were concerned with organoleptic traits and risks of exogenous residues in pork. Participants’ views regarding the potential increases in the cost of meat due to adoption of alternative methods varied; some argued that avoiding pain justifies an increase in the price of pork and others that this would impact especially lower income citizens. Our findings indicate that participants opposed surgical castration without pain control, and supported alternative methods. However, the concern with potential risks of presence of residues in meat, expressed by a few participants, may need to be addressed among consumers.
Risk Factors for Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Infection or Colonization in a Korean Intensive Care Unit: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Kim Young Ah , Lee Se Ju , Park Yoon Soo , Lee Yeo Jin , Yeon Jeong Hwa , Seo Young Hee , Lee Kyungwon
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors related to the infection and/or colonization of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) based on clinical and microbiological data for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). All patients admitted to medical ICU were screened for CPE on admission and weekly, and this 1:2 case–control study included patients with CPE identified by screening or clinical cultures from 2017 to 2018. The clonal relatedness was evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A total of 45 CPE patients were identified with a prevalence of 3.8%. The most frequent organism was Klebsiella pneumoniae (69%) and the carbapenemases belonged to the class A Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC-2) (87%), class B New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) (11%), and Imipenemase (IMP-1) (2%) strains. The PFGE profiles showed two large clustered groups of KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae. In the multivariate analysis, pneumonia/chronic pulmonary disease, previous fluoroquinolone use, and previous use of nasogastric tube were the significant risk factors for CPE infection or colonization in ICU-admitted patients. Critical illness and underlying medical conditions such as pneumonia/chronic pulmonary disease, antimicrobial selective pressure, and the use of a medical device are identified as risk factors for CPE infection or colonization in ICU. Person to person transmission also contributed.
Pullulan Films Containing Rockrose Essential Oil for Potential Food Packaging Applications
Authors: Luís Ângelo , Ramos Ana , Domingues Fernanda
Published: October 2020

Active packaging is designed to control the development of decay- and disease-causing microorganisms and is emerging as a promising technology for extending shelf-life, maintaining food safety, reducing waste, and minimizing the risks for foodborne diseases. The goal of this work was to develop and characterize bioactive pullulan-based films, containing rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) essential oil. Among other abundant compounds (camphene, bornyl acetate and trans-pinocarveol), α-pinene was identified as the major compound of rockrose essential oil (39.25%). The essential oil presented stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-positive than against Gram-negative bacteria. The antioxidant results indicate the potential of the developed films to be used to package foods susceptible to oxidation and rancification, thus improving their shelf-life. Also, this study reflects the potential of rockrose essential oil, free or incorporated in pullulan, as a promising quorum sensing inhibitor, since it was able to interrupt intercellular communication, inhibiting violacein production. Electronic microscopy images showed the antibiofilm activity of the films with rockrose essential oil that were able to influence bacterial adhesion, which may be explained by the differences in the surface free energy of the films, as also determined.
Characterization of Gait and Postural Regulation in Late-Onset Pompe Disease
Authors: Schneider Ilka , Zierz Stephan , Schulze Stephan , Delank Karl-Stefan , Laudner Kevin G. , Brill Richard , Schwesig René
Published: October 2020

Pompe disease is a multisystemic disorder with the hallmark of progressive skeletal muscle weakness that often results in difficulties in walking and balance. However, detailed characterization of gait and postural regulation with this disease is lacking. The objective of this investigation was to determine if differences exist between the gait and postural regulation of LOPD patients and a matched control group. The gaits of 16 patients with LOPD were assessed using a gait analysis mobile system (RehaGait) and a dynamometric treadmill (FDM-T 1.8). The Interactive Balance System (IBS) was used to evaluate postural regulation and stability. All measures were compared to individual reference data. Demographic (age, gender), morphological (body height, body mass) and clinical data (muscle strength according to the Medical Research Council Scale (MRC Scale), as well as the 6-min walking test and a 10-m fast walk) were also recorded. Compared to individual reference data, LOPD patients presented with reduced gait velocity, cadence and time in single stand. A total of 87% of LOPD patients had abnormalities during posturographic analysis presenting with differences in postural subsystems. This study provides objective data demonstrating impaired gait and posture in LOPD patients. For follow-up analysis and as outcome measurements during medical or physiotherapeutic interventions, the findings of this investigation may be useful.
Optimization of the Antioxidant Activities of Mixtures of Melastomataceae Leaves Species (M. malabathricum Linn Smith, M. decemfidum, and M. hirta) Using a Simplex Centroid Design and Their Anti-Collagenase and Elastase Properties
Authors: Azahar Nur Fauwizah , Abd Gani Siti Salwa , Zaidan Uswatun Hasanah , Bawon Paiman , Halmi Mohd Izuan Effendi
Published: October 2020

In this study, a simplex-centroid mixture design (SCMD) approach was used to select the optimal proportions of three different Melastomataceae leaves species (M. malabathricum, M. decemfidum, and M. hirta) extracts to determine the optimum antioxidant activities of total phenolic compound (TPC) and ABTS (2, 2′-azino-bis (ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical-scavenging activities. Twelve experimental designs were set up, consisting of points that were equally weighted mixtures of 0 to 1 components, which were pure blends (1, 0, …, 0), binary blends (1/2, 1/2, 0, …, 0), tertiary blends (1/3, 1/3, 1/3, 0, …, 0), and a control point. The in vitro anti-elastase and collagenase activities were evaluated in order to determine the anti-aging efficacy of the optimized mixture extracts. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was employed to identify the flavonoid content (rutin and quercetin) present in the optimized mixture extracts. The results showed that the best proportions of the optimum phenolic compounds and ABTS activity corresponded to 30%, 40%, and 30% of M. malabathricum, M. hirta, and M. decemfidum leaf extracts, respectively. The in vitro anti-collagenase and elastase activity evaluation of the optimized mixture extracts showed 70% inhibition against both elastase and collagenase enzymes. The HPLC analysis revealed two flavonoids (rutin and quercetin) at retention time 7.770 and 8.769 min, respectively, in the mixture extracts. This study suggests the potential exploitation of mixtures of Melastomataceae leaves (M. malabathricum, M. decemfidum, and M. hirta) as cosmetic ingredients for antioxidant and anti-wrinkles applications.
Experimental Study and Damage Model on the Seismic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete L-Shaped Columns under Combined Torsion
Authors: Xu Deyi , Yang Yang , Chen Zongping
Published: October 2020

Due to the advantage of saving indoor space, a special-shaped column frame attracted more attention of the engineers and researchers. This paper presented a quasi-static cyclic loading experiment of six specimens of reinforced concrete (RC) L-shaped columns under compression-flexure-shear-torsion combined loadings to investigate the effect in the ratio of torsion to moment (T/M) and axial compression ratio (n) on their seismic performance. The results showed that the failure modes of L-shaped specimens included bending failure, bending-torsion failure, and torsion-shear failure with the hysteretic curves exhibiting S shape. With the increase of T/M ratio, cracks on the flange developed more fully, and the height of plastic hinge decreased and torsion bearing capacity improved. Besides, as the T/M ratio increased the twist ductility increased, while displacement ductility decreased. On the other hand, with a higher axial compression ratio, torsion bearing capacity and bending stiffness were both increased. Moreover, the equivalent viscous damping coefficient of bending and torsion were 0.08~0.28 and 0.13~0.23, respectively. The average inter-story drift ratio met the requirements of the Chinese standard. Finally, two modified models were proposed to predict the progression of damage for the L-shaped column under combined loading including torsion.
Air Pollution Policy in Israel
Authors: Negev Maya
Published: October 2020

Since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel has been oriented towards economic development and industrialization, with a transportation sector increasingly focused on private cars. In 1961, initial awareness of environmental risks led to the adoption of the Abatement of Nuisances Law, which served as the platform for air pollution policy for several decades, even as population growth and growth of the industrial sector, including fossil fuel power plants, led to a continuous increase in air pollution. In the early 2000s, the environmental movement in Israel criticized local air pollution policy as being out of date and started to promote a new Clean Air Law. The law, which was adopted in 2008 and came into force in 2011, was a watershed in air pollution policy in Israel. It includes ambient air quality values for 28 contaminants, emission permits for the industrial sector based on best available techniques (BAT), an enforcement system, and a unified and transparent monitoring system. This paper reviews the history of air pollution policy in Israel from 1948, through the 1961 and 2008 landmark legislations and their strengths and weaknesses, to the present. The paper ends with recommendations for future air pollution policy in Israel.
Mid-Century Changes in the Mean and Extreme Climate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Implications for Water Harvesting and Climate Adaptation
Authors: Komurcu Muge , Schlosser C. Adam , Alshehri Ibtihal , Alshahrani Tariq , Alhayaza Waleed , AlSaati Adnan , Strzepek Kenneth
Published: October 2020

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a water-scarce region with a dry, desert climate, yet flood-producing precipitation events and heat extremes lead to loss of life and damages to local infrastructure, property and economy. Due to its distinctive natural and man-made spatial features (e.g., coastal features, wadis, agricultural areas) studying changes in the mean climate and extreme events requires higher-resolution climate projections than those available from the current generation of Earth System Models. Here, a high-resolution convection-permitting regional climate model is used to downscale the middle of the 21st century (2041–2050) climate projections of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) under representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 and for a historical time period (2008–2017) focusing on two months (August and November) within KSA’s dry-hot and wet seasons, where extreme events have historically been observed more frequently. Downscaling of climate reanalysis is also performed for the historical time period (2008–2017) to evaluate the downscaling methodology. An increase in the intensity and frequency of precipitation events is found in August by mid-century, particularly along the mountainous western coast of KSA, suggesting potential for water harvesting. Conversely, the northern flank of the Empty Quarter experiences a noticeable reduction in mean and extreme precipitation rates during the wet season. Increasing August heat index is found to particularly make regional habitability difficult in Jeddah by mid-century.
Concentrations of Four Major Air Pollutants among Ecological Functional Zones in Shenyang, Northeast China
Authors: Li Liguang , Zhao Ziqi , Wang Hongbo , Wang Yangfeng , Liu Ningwei , Li Xiaolan , Ma Yanjun
Published: October 2020

Air pollution is a critical urban environmental issue in China; however, the relationships between air pollutants and ecological functional zones in urban areas are poorly understood. Therefore, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of four major air pollutants (particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and 10 µm (PM10) in diameter, SO2, and NO2) concentrations over five ecological functional zones in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, at hourly, seasonal, and annual scales using data collected from 11 monitoring stations over 2 years. We further assessed the relationships between these pollutants and meteorological conditions and land-use types at the local scale. Peaks in PM, SO2, and NO2 concentrations occurred at 08:00–09:00 and 23:00 in all five zones. Daytime PM concentrations were highest in the industrial zone, and those of SO2 and NO2 were highest in residential areas. All four air pollutants reached their highest concentrations in winter and lowest in summer. The highest mean seasonal PM concentrations were found in the industrial zone, and the highest SO2 and NO2 concentrations were found in residential areas. The mean annual PM and SO2 concentrations decreased in 2017 in all zones, while that of NO2 increased in all zones excluding the cultural zone. The natural reserve zone had the lowest concentrations of all pollutants at all temporal scales. Pollutant concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 were correlated with visibility, and their correlation coefficients are 0.675, 0.579, 0.475, and 0.477. Land coverage with buildings and natural vegetation negatively and positively influence air pollutant concentrations, respectively.
Comprehensive Criteria for the Extrema in Entropy Production Rate for Heat Transfer in the Linear Region of Extended Thermodynamics Framework
Authors: Verros George D.
Published: October 2020

In this work comprehensive criteria for detecting the extrema in entropy production rate for heat transfer by conduction in a uniform body under a constant volume in the linear region of Extended Thermodynamics Framework are developed. These criteria are based on calculating the time derivative of entropy production rate with the aid of well-established engineering principles, such as the local heat transfer coefficients. By using these coefficients, the temperature gradient is replaced by the difference of this quantity. It is believed that the result of this work could be used to further elucidate irreversible processes.
A Novel 3D Model for Visualization and Tracking of Fibroblast-Guided Directional Cancer Cell Migration
Authors: Zhang Yihe , Jiang Bingjie , Lee Meng Huee
Published: October 2020

Stromal fibroblasts surrounding cancer cells are a major and important constituent of the tumor microenvironment not least because they contain cancer-associated fibroblasts, a unique fibroblastic cell type that promotes tumorigenicity through extracellular matrix remodeling and secretion of soluble factors that stimulate cell differentiation and invasion. Despite much progress made in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underpin fibroblast–tumor cross-talk, relatively little is known about the way the two cell types interact from a physical contact perspective. In this study, we report a novel three-dimensional dumbbell model that would allow the physical interaction between the fibroblasts and cancer cells to be visualized and monitored by microscopy. To achieve the effect, the fibroblasts and cancer cells in 50% Matrigel suspension were seeded as independent droplets in separation from each other. To allow for cell migration and interaction, a narrow passage of Matrigel causeway was constructed in between the droplets, effectively molding the gel into the shape of a dumbbell. Under time-lapse microscopy, we were able to visualize and image the entire process of fibroblast-guided cancer cell migration event, from initial vessel-like structure formation by the fibroblasts to their subsequent invasion across the causeway, attracting and trapping the cancer cells in the process. Upon prolonged culture, the entire population of fibroblasts eventually infiltrated across the passage and condensed into a spheroid-like cell mass, encapsulating the bulk of the cancer cell population within. Suitable for almost every cell type, our model has the potential for a wider application as it can be adapted for use in drug screening and the study of cellular factors involved in cell–cell attraction.
Anti-cancer Evaluation of Depsides Isolated from Indonesian Folious Lichens: Physcia millegrana, Parmelia dilatata and Parmelia aurulenta
Authors: Nugraha Ari Satia , Laksono Tinton Agung , Firli Lilla Nur , Putri Chintya Permata Zahky Sukrisno , Pratoko Dwi Koko , Zulfikar Zulfikar , Untari Ludmilla Fitri , Wongso Hendris , Lambert Jacob M. , Dillon Carolyn T. , Keller Paul A.
Published: October 2020

Cancer is a serious health burden on global societies. The discovery and development of new anti-cancer therapies remains a challenging objective. Although it has been shown that lichen secondary metabolites may be potent sources for new anti-cancer agents, the Indonesian- grown folious lichens, Physcia millegrana, Parmelia dilatata and Parmeila aurulenta, have not yet been explored. In this study exhaustive preparative high-performance liquid chromatography was employed to isolate the lichen constituents with spectroscopic and spectrometric protocols identifying nine depsides 9–17, including the new methyl 4-formyl-2,3-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate 13. The cytotoxicity of the depsides towards cancer cells was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results indicated lowest toxicity of the depsides towards human A549 lung cancer cells. Importantly, the di-depsides (11, 12 and 17) showed greatest toxicity, indicating that these structures are biologically more active than the mono-depsides against the HepG2 liver cancer, A549 lung cancer and HL-60 leukemia cell lines.
α-Bisabolol, a Dietary Bioactive Phytochemical Attenuates Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration through Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation and Apoptosis in Rotenone-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Javed Hayate , Meeran M. F. Nagoor , Azimullah Sheikh , Bader Eddin Lujain , Dwivedi Vivek Dhar , Jha Niraj Kumar , Ojha Shreesh
Published: October 2020

Rotenone (ROT), a plant-derived pesticide is a well-known environmental neurotoxin associated with causation of Parkinson’s disease (PD). ROT impairs mitochondrial dysfunction being mitochondrial complex-I (MC-1) inhibitor and perturbs antioxidant-oxidant balance that contributes to the onset and development of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in PD. Due to the scarcity of agents to prevent the disease or to cure or halt the progression of symptoms of PD, the focus is on exploring agents from naturally occurring dietary phytochemicals. Among numerous phytochemicals, α-Bisabolol (BSB), natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol found in many ornamental flowers and edible plants garnered attention due to its potent pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential. Therefore, the present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of BSB in a rat model of ROT-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration, a pathogenic feature of PD and underlying mechanism targeting oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. BSB treatment significantly prevented ROT-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons and fibers in the substantia nigra and striatum respectively. BSB treatment also attenuated ROT-induced oxidative stress evidenced by inhibition of MDA formation and GSH depletion as well as improvement in antioxidant enzymes, SOD and catalase. BSB treatment also attenuated ROT-induced activation of the glial cells as well as the induction and release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2) in the striatum. In addition to countering oxidative stress and inflammation, BSB also attenuated apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons by attenuating downregulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, cleaved caspases-3 and 9. Further, BSB was observed to attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, cytochrome-C release and reinstates the levels/activity of ATP and MC-I. The findings of the study demonstrate that BSB treatment salvaged dopaminergic neurons, attenuated microglia and astrocyte activation, induction of inflammatory mediators, proinflammatory cytokines and reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic markers. The in vitro study on ABTS radical revealed the antioxidant potential of BSB. The results of the present study are clearly suggestive of the neuroprotective effects of BSB through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties in ROT-induced model of PD.
Effects of Elevated Downstream Pressure and the Role of Smooth Muscle Cell Coupling through Connexin45 on Lymphatic Pacemaking
Authors: Castorena-Gonzalez Jorge A. , Li Min , Davis Michael J.
Published: October 2020

Lymphatic vessels rely on spontaneous lymphatic muscle cell (LMC) contractions and one-way intraluminal valves to efficiently pump lymph and return it into the bloodstream. Intraluminal pressure is known to regulate the contractile function of lymphatics, with pressure elevation leading to increased contraction frequency and decreased amplitude. Contractions are normally initiated by a dominant pacemaker and are highly entrained among strongly coupled LMCs. Previously, we found that connexin45 is the major connexin isoform mediating LMC-LMC electrical coupling. Lymphatics from mice lacking smooth muscle connexin45 display uncoordinated, impaired contractions. Here, we utilized this connexin45-deficient model, pressure myography, and recently developed, novel analytical tools to assess the effects of elevated downstream pressure on the number, location, and frequency of lymphatic pacemakers. Our results show that, in vessels from healthy controls, an increase in downstream pressure resulted in the recruitment/development of new pacemakers and increased contractile frequency while a dominant pacemaker continued to be observed. In contrast, vessels from connexin45-deficient mice displayed significantly more pacemakers, but none were dominant; this worsened with elevated downstream pressure. These results suggest a potential protective mechanism through which the lymphatic vasculature adapts to transient increases in downstream pressure, but which may not be sustained in scenarios with chronic elevated downstream pressure.
Composition and Function of Telomerase—A Polymerase Associated with the Origin of Eukaryotes
Authors: Schrumpfová Petra Procházková , Fajkus Jiří
Published: October 2020

The canonical DNA polymerases involved in the replication of the genome are unable to fully replicate the physical ends of linear chromosomes, called telomeres. Chromosomal termini thus become shortened in each cell cycle. The maintenance of telomeres requires telomerase—a specific RNA-dependent DNA polymerase enzyme complex that carries its own RNA template and adds telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes using a reverse transcription mechanism. Both core subunits of telomerase—its catalytic telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) subunit and telomerase RNA (TR) component—were identified in quick succession in Tetrahymena more than 30 years ago. Since then, both telomerase subunits have been described in various organisms including yeasts, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Despite the fact that telomerase activity in plants was described 25 years ago and the TERT subunit four years later, a genuine plant TR has only recently been identified by our group. In this review, we focus on the structure, composition and function of telomerases. In addition, we discuss the origin and phylogenetic divergence of this unique RNA-dependent DNA polymerase as a witness of early eukaryotic evolution. Specifically, we discuss the latest information regarding the recently discovered TR component in plants, its conservation and its structural features.
Oxidation of L-Ascorbic Acid in the Presence of the Copper-Binding Compound from Methanotrophic Bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus (M)
Authors: Avdeeva Lidia V. , Gvozdev Rudolf I.
Published: October 2020

The oxidation of ascorbic acid by air oxygen and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the copper-binding compound (cbc) from bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus (M) was studied. The rate constant of ascorbic acid oxidation by air oxygen in the presence of the copper complex with cbc from M. capsulatus (M) was shown to be 1.5 times higher than that of the noncatalytic reaction. The rate constant of ascorbic acid oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the copper complex with cbc from M. capsulatus (M) decreased by almost one-third compared to the reaction in the absence of the copper complex with cbc. It was assumed that cbc can be involved in a multilevel system of antioxidant protection and can protect a bacterial cell from oxidation stress. Thus, the cbc is mimetic ascorbate oxidase in the oxidation of ascorbic acid by molecular oxygen.
Lexical and Cognitive Underpinnings of Verbal Fluency: Evidence from Bengali-English Bilingual Aphasia
Authors: Patra Abhijeet , Bose Arpita , Marinis Theodoros
Published: October 2020

Research in bilingual healthy controls (BHC) has illustrated that detailed characterization of verbal fluency along with separate measures of executive control stand to inform our understanding of the lexical and cognitive underpinnings of the task. Such data are currently lacking in bilinguals with aphasia (BWA). We aimed to compare the characteristics of verbal fluency performance (semantic, letter) in Bengali–English BWA and BHC, in terms of cross-linguistic differences, variation on the parameters of bilingualism, and cognitive underpinnings. BWA showed significant differences on verbal fluency variables where executive control demands were higher (fluency difference score, number of switches, between-cluster pauses); whilst performed similarly on variables where executive control demands were lower (cluster size, within-cluster pauses). Despite clear cross-linguistic advantage in Bengali for BHC, no cross-linguistic differences were noted in BWA. BWA who were most affected in the independent executive control measures also showed greater impairment in letter fluency condition. Correlation analyses revealed a significant relationship for BWA between inhibitory control and number of correct responses, initial retrieval time, and number of switches. This research contributes to the debate of underlying mechanisms of word retrieval deficits in aphasia, and adds to the nascent literature of BWA in South Asian languages.
Correction: Liu, W., et al. Synthesis and Characterization of N‐Doped SiC Powder with Enhanced Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Performance. Catalysts 2020, 10, 769
Authors: Liu Wanli , Li Qi , Yang Xianglong , Chen Xiufang , Xu Xiangang
Published: October 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [1] [...]
The Primary Cilium of Adipose Progenitors Is Necessary for Their Differentiation into Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts that Promote Migration of Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro
Authors: Peraldi Pascal , Ladoux Annie , Giorgetti-Peraldi Sophie , Dani Christian
Published: October 2020

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are central elements of the microenvironment that control tumor development. In breast cancer, CAFs can originate from adipose progenitors (APs). We, and others, have shown that the primary cilium, an antenna-shaped organelle, controls several aspects of APs’ biology. We studied the conversion of human APs into CAFs by breast cancer cell lines (BCCs). Deletion of the cilium of APs by a pharmacological inhibitor, or by siRNA, allow us to demonstrate that the cilium is necessary for the differentiation of APs into CAFs. BCCs increase production of TGF-β1 by APs, which is a known inducer of CAFs. Pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling in APs prevents their conversion into CAFs. Since we previously showed that deletion of the APs’ cilium inhibits TGF-β1 signaling, we propose that BCCs induce TGF-β1 production in Aps, which binds to the primary cilium of Aps and leads to their differentiation into CAFs. Inhibition of APs conversion into CAFs induces a loss in some of the biological effects of CAFs since deletion of the cilium of APs decreases their effect on the migration of BCCs. This is the first observation of a function of the cilium of APs in their conversion into CAFs, and its consequences on BCCs.
HSP90 Co-Chaperone, CacyBP/SIP, Protects α-Synuclein from Aggregation
Authors: Bohush Anastasiia , Filipek Anna
Published: October 2020

Recently, it has been found that the CacyBP/SIP protein acts as HSP90 co-chaperone and exhibits chaperone properties itself. Namely, CacyBP/SIP has been shown to protect citrate synthase from aggregation and to recover the activity of thermally denatured luciferase in vitro. In the present work, we have analyzed the influence of CacyBP/SIP on aggregation of α-synuclein, a protein present in Lewy bodies of Parkinson’s disease brain. By applying a thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay, we have found that CacyBP/SIP protects α-synuclein from aggregation and that the fragment overlapping the N-terminal part and the CS domain of CacyBP/SIP is crucial for this activity. This protective effect of CacyBP/SIP has been confirmed by results obtained using high-speed ultracentrifugation followed by dot-blot and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Interestingly, CacyBP/SIP exhibits the protective effect only at the initial phase of α-synuclein aggregation. In addition, we have found that, in HEK293 cells overexpressing CacyBP/SIP, there are less α-synuclein inclusions than in control ones. Moreover, these cells are more viable when treated with rotenone, an agent that mimics PD pathology. By applying proximity ligation assay (PLA) on HEK293 cells and in vitro assays with the use of purified recombinant proteins, we have found that CacyBP/SIP directly interacts with α-synuclein. Altogether, in this work, we show for the first time that CacyBP/SIP is able to protect α-synuclein from aggregation in in vitro assays. Thus, our results point to an important role of CacyBP/SIP in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies.