bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contribution of Library Professionals and Libraries in Open Educational Resources in Indian Scenario
Authors: Upneja Sunil K
Published: April 2020

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning content that live in public domain and are free to use or reuse. The present study examines the contribution of Library Professionals and Libraries in dealing with OERs in India. A self-designed structured questionnaire was circulated online through blogs, discussion forums, social media groups and personal e-mails among library professionals, faculty and students for random data collection. The findings of the present study reveal that though majority (93 %) of library professionals are aware of the concept of OER but they are unable to guide the OER movement because their parent institution (70 %) have no policy guidelines on design and development of OERs. Library professionals play multiple tasks in dealing with OERs, most prominent being promotion (15.63 %) and Identification (14.02 %) of OERs. The study further reveals that 25.48 per cent library professionals believe that through use of OERs the patrons get benefit of gaining access to high quality learning material. While 21.3 per cent library professionals feels that lack of awareness on the existence of OERs because of rapid technological advancement is the major challenge faced by them. The study recommends that there is an urgent need to sensitise institutions about the benefits of OER.
Agroterrorism in Indian Context
Authors: Datta Sibnarayan , . Vanlalhmuaka , Dwivedi Sanjai Kumar
Published: April 2020

In the context of change in global scenario of terrorism and economic competition, the risk of deliberate attack on agriculture is increasing. In a country, like India, whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture produce and exports, any such malicious attack can grossly destabilise the socio-economic structure. Additionally, an attack on major food crops can lead to potential threat to food security, subsequently, leading to destabilised law and order situation of a state. It is therefore very important to understand the risks and threats of agroterrorism for a given country in order to be prepared for any such circumstance. In this review we discuss different aspects of agroterrorism, its history, possibilities of such incidences in Indian scenario and mitigation strategies, which can be achieved through regular surveillance of pathogens in vulnerable crop ecosystems. We also describe a recent episode of outbreak of cotton leaf curl disease in the Northwest Indian cotton growing region and discuss it from the perspective of a possible threat on one of the most important economic crops of our country.
Occurrence of Toxigenic Microcystis spp in Major Water Bodies of North East India
Authors: Rajkonwar Jadab , Bora Ajitabh , Reddy Pichili Vijaya Bhaskar , Dwivedi Sanjai Kumar
Published: April 2020

Toxigenic cyanobacterial blooms in the water bodies represent a major ecological problem around the world. Some species produces a diverse range of toxins that have hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, cytotoxic and dermatoxic activity and hence have deleterious effect on humans, animals and fishes leading to death as well. Cultural eutrophication of water bodies leads to increased incidence of these harmful cyanobacterial blooms worldwide. North-East India being a biodiversity hotspot harbor many species of cyanobacteria. Few reports suggested presence of few toxigenic cyanobacteria in the water bodies of Assam, but no systematic studies have been undertaken to evaluate their toxicity. This work is being conducted to gather information on major toxigenic cyanobacteria, with special emphasis to microcystin (a cyclic heptapeptides with high acute and chronic toxicities to humans and animals) producing strains. Water samples have been collected from few water bodies of North-East and enriched in specific media. The toxin Microcystin was detected using specific ELISA kit and positive results have been obtained. Further, 16s rDNA sequencing was employed for molecular identification of the strains.
Study on Air Bacteria at Different Altitudinal Locations in Tezpur to Tawang Axis
Authors: Chatterjee Soumya , Datta Sibnarayan , Banu Leeza , Vairale Mohan G. , Sharma Sonika
Published: April 2020

Microflora plays an important role in modulating environmental quality. Among microflora, bacteria are omnipresent in the environment. Pathogenic bacteria, present in air, are known to affect significantly the health and well-being of human, animal or plant populations. Air bacteria monitoring is thus essential for surveillance of pathogenic microorganisms from public health perspective besides its significant implications in detection and mitigation of biothreat related issues. Despite the geo-politically strategic importance of northeast India, there is scarcity of data on human health and disease surveillance. Considering these facts, we, for the first time studied the bacterial diversity of air at six important sites adjacent to the international border in the northeast region of India, having an altitude range of 73 m (Tezpur) to 4170 m (Sela Pass) above sea level. Standard microbiological techniques, such as Tryptone Soya Agar, Mannitol salt and McConkey agar strips and plates were used for air bacterial load assessment and culture for subsequent analysis using biochemical and molecular techniques. Following RFLP study, twenty six different bacterial colonies were isolated. Subsequently, bacteria identification was carried out by examining the substrate utilisation patterns, sequencing 16S rRNA gene and phylogenetic analysis. Results of the study reveal that the isolates mostly belong to two genera Bacillus and Staphylococcus (eleven in each genus), along with Micrococcus, Pseduomonas and Acinetobacter. Based on significant match of our sequences with that of medically important bacterial 16S rRNA sequences available at 16SpathDB 2.0 and review of available literature, we found that a number of these bacterial species have the pathogenic potential. In this manuscript we report our results and discuss the importance of air bacterial surveillance from the perspective of human health, hygiene and biothreat mitigation.
Isolation and Characterization of Lytic Bacteriophages from Wastewater and its Application in Pathogen Reduction
Authors: Sharma Sonika , Datta Sibnarayan , Chatterjee Soumya , Vairale Mohan G. , Prasad Rajesh Kumar , Das Bidisha , . Vanlalhmuaka
Published: April 2020

Present work wasperformedto isolate, enrich and characterizebacteriophageusing basic laboratory set-up, and to demonstrate their lytic potential in pathogen reduction. Following standard microbiological and molecular biological procedures, we examined cultivable bacteria and bacteriophages in wastewater sample. Subsequently, from cultures of wastewater sample, we isolated and characterized bacterial isolate, which was thenusedtoenrichlytic bacteriophages, using a combination of double layer plaque-assay, isolation and genetic techniques to isolate bacteriophage against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Subsequently decontamination capability of this phage was assessed in form of spray and matrix adsorbed formulations.  Storage stability of phagepreparations at different temperatures was also studied by calculating reduction in phage titer. Presentstudies demonstratelytic potential of phageas an eco-friendly alternative to conventional control approachesagainstbacterial contamination.
Citra Kawasan Manahan Kota Surakarta Sebagai Lokasi Stabilisasi PKL
Authors: Rahayu Murtanti Jani , Buchori Imam , Widjajanti Retno , Putri Rufia Andisetyana , Rini Erma Fitria
Published: April 2020

Stabilization as one of the street vendors arrangement type conducted by the government of Surakarta, that have great implications on the aesthetic style and form at some city parts. Some parts of Surakarta has changed a lot since the inauguration of the location, that is a public space, as a street vendors stabilization location in part of the area. Manahan area is one of the locations of street vendor stabilization that is considered successful. The presence of street vendors who have been arranged in the area Manahan able to attract visitors both weekand and weekdays, especially on holidays. This area is also more easily remembered by the visitors than other areas that there is no stabilization of street vendors. It means that this area has good and unique image quality that can be a memory for visitors. The purpose of this paper is to explore the image of street vendor Manahan stabilization area. Understanding the image of city area, principle that is used to assess the five basic elements of image formers include landmarks, path, edge, district and node. All five elements will be the componens in assessing the identity, identity and meaning that will shape the cognition of visitors so that it can be used as environmental orientation when someone is in a place. The introduction of Manahan stabilization area begins with stimulation done by graphic and visual technique before the interviews made a cognitive map in Stabilisasi PKL Manahan area and also made familiarity-favorability-semantic differensial assesment. This area has the potential of sustainability and good image compared to other stabilization locations, so that the managed street vendors can continue to grow and the location of the arrangement becomes an attractive area and supports the identity of the city of Surakarta as a merchant friendly city by staying a beautiful and friendly city for all the citizens and tourists who visit it.
Prediction of Land Use Change Due to Light Rail Transit (LRT) Development in Palembang
Authors: Saputra Isro , Nabila F A
Published: April 2020

Light rail transit (LRT) is an effective transportation in serving the needs of movement in urban area that can increase commercial land uses. The first construction of LRT in Palembang started in 2015 which became one of the national priority projects in Indonesia. The development had an impact on land use change around the LRT corridor. This paper attempts to identify land use change due to LRT development in Palembang. This study used an explorative approach to develop an understanding of land use change due to the development of LRT and Markov-cellular automata model to predict the change. The results of this study indicated that the prediction of land use change in 2025 around the LRT corridor tends to shift more into commercial land use, this will increase investment from commercial activities in the Palembang LRT Corridor.
Thermostable cellulase biosynthesis from Paenibacillus alvei and its utilization in lactic acid production by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation
Authors: Mostafa Yasser S. , Alamri Saad A. , Hashem Mohamed , Nafady Nivien A. , Abo-Elyousr Kamal A.M. , Mohamed Zakaria A.
Published: April 2020

Cellulosic date palm wastes may have beneficial biotechnological applications for eco-friendly utilization. This study reports the isolation of thermophilic cellulase-producing bacteria and their application in lactic acid production using date palm leaves. The promising isolate was identified as Paenibacillus alvei by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Maximum cellulase production was acquired using alkaline treated date palm leaves (ATDPL) at 48 h and yielded 4.50 U.mL-1 FPase, 8.11 U.mL-1 CMCase, and 2.74 U.mL-1 β-glucosidase. The cellulase activity was optimal at pH 5.0 and 50°C with good stability at a wide temperature (40-70°C) and pH (4.0-7.0) range, demonstrating its suitability in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. Lactic acid fermentation was optimized at 4 days, pH 5.0, 50°C, 6.0% cellulose of ATDPL, 30 FPU/ g cellulose, 1.0 g. L-1 Tween 80, and 5.0 g. L-l yeast extract using Lactobacillus delbrueckii. The conversion efficiency of lactic acid from the cellulose of ATDPL was 98.71%, and the lactic acid productivity was 0.719 g. L-1 h-1. Alkaline treatment exhibited a valuable effect on the production of cellulases and lactic acid by reducing the lignin content and cellulose crystallinity. The results of this study offer a credible procedure for using date palm leaves for microbial industrial applications.
RADIATION USE EFFICIENCY, ABOVE GROUND BIOMASS ACCUMULATION, CANOPY DEVELOPMENT, LEAF AREA-LIGHT INTERCEPTION PROFILES AND RADIATION INTERCEPTION OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) AS INFLUENCED BY IRRIGATION REGIMEN / INFLUENCIA DEL RÉGIMEN DE IRRIGACIÓN SOBRE LA EFICACIA DEL USO DE LA RADIACIÓN, LA ACUMULACIÓN DE BIOMASA, EL DESAROROLLO DEL CANOPEO, EL ÁREA DE LA HOJA Y LOS PERFILES DE INTERCEPCIÓN DE LUZ Y DE RADIACIÓN EN GIRASOL (Helianthus annuus L.) / EFFICACITÉ DE L’UTILISATION DES RADIATIONS SOLAIRES, ACCUMULATION DE LA BIOMASSE DANS LA PARTIE AÉRIENNE, DÉVELOPPEMENT DE L’OMBRELLE, PROFILS D’INTERCEPTION DE LA LUMIÈRE PAR LA FEUILLE ET INTERCEPTION DES RADIATIONS SOLAIRES CHEZ LE TOURNESOL (Helianthus annuus L.) SOUS L’INFLUENCE D’UN RÉGIME D’IRRIGATION
Authors: Sridhara S. , Prasad T.G.
Published: April 2020

A field experiment was conducted at Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore to study the effect of irrigation regimens on the biomass accumulation, canopy development, light interception and radiation use efficiency of sunflower. The treatments includes irrigating the plants at 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 cumulative pan evaporation. The results indicated that the aboveground biomass, canopy development, radiation interception and radiation use efficiency were influenced favorably by the irrigation regimens. Irrespective of the irrigation regimen, the radiation use efficiency of sunflower increased from 15 DAS to 75 DAS and then tended to decline. The decrease in RUE after anthesis is coupled with decrease in leaf nitrogen content. In general the RUE of sunflower ranged from 0.49 g MJ-1 to 1.84 g MJ-1 at different growth stages. The light transmission within the canopy increased exponentially with plant height and the canopy extension coefficient is found to be 0.8.
PHENOLOGY, YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF SUNFLOWER IN FUNCTION OF ENVIRONMENT AND NITROGEN / FENOLOGIA, RENDIMIENTO Y EFICIENCIA EN EL USO DEL AGUA EN FUNCION DEL AMBIENTE Y NITRÓGENO / PHÉNOLOGIE, RENDEMENT ET EFFICACITÉ DE L’UTILISATION DE L’EAU EN FONCTION DES ENVIRONS ET DE L’AZOTE CHEZ LE TOURNESOL
Authors: Olalde G. Víctor M. , Escalante E. J. Alberto , Mastache L. Angel A.
Published: April 2020

During the rainy season of 1998, a field experiment was established in Cocula, Guerrero (hot subhumid climate, Awo) and in Montecillo, México (semiarid climate, BS1), to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (0, 10 and 20 g m-2) and environment on phenology, yield and its components, water use efficiency (WUE), and crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and heat units (HU) accumulated during the growth cycle of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cv. Victoria. The crop was planted on June 1 at a density of 7.5 pl m-2 in both climates. In Cocula, maximum and minimum temperatures were more extreme and rainfall was more intense, while soil was poor in total nitrogen, compared with Montecillo. Crop growth, yield and its components, and water use efficiency were affected significantly by the environment, nitrogen and the interaction environment * nitrogen. The crop cycle in the hot environment was 36 days shorter, with a greater accumulation of HU and ETc. Yield and its components and water use efficiency were significantly higher in Cocula. Nitrogen positively affected the evaluated variables. The interactive effect of environment * nitrogen was observed clearly, since in Cocula there was response to the application of nitrogen in most of the variables evaluated, while in Montecillo there was not.
QUANTIZATION OF REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES IN RELATION TO THE VASCULARIZATION OF SUNFLOWER CAPITULUM (Helianthus annuus L.) DURING ITS DEVELOPMENT / QUANTIZATION OF REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES IN RELATION TO THE VASCULARIZATION OF SUNFLOWER CAPITULUM (Helianthus annuus L.) DURING ITS DEVELOPMENT / QUANTIZATION DE STRUCTURES REPRODUCTRICES EN RAPPORT AU VASCULARISATION DE CAPITULE DU TOURNESOL (Helianthus annuus L.) PENDANT SON DÉVELOPPEMENT
Authors: Tosto A.C. Martínez , Cardinali F.J.
Published: April 2020

The objective of this work was to determine the number of reproductive structures in relation to the vascularization of sunflower capitulum in three sectors: outer, middle and center, and in four development stages: E2 (early floral button), E4 (late floral button), F3.2 (beginning flowering) and M0 (end flowering) according to the CETIOM code.

Seeds of Dekalb G100 sunflower hybrid were sown at 72.000 pl/ha density and the capitula gathered at the indicated stages.

At each stage, significant increases were noticed in the reproductive structures number from the outer sector to the center of capitulum. The number of vascular bundles per unit of surface showed a significant decrease from the outer sector to the center at E2 and E4 stages and a tendency to become stable at F3.2 and M0. The obtained values of surface covered by phloem per cm2 of capitulum, decreased remarkably from the outer sector to the center at E4 stage while at F3.2 and M0 minor but still important decreases were observed.

The statistical analysis made on reproductive structures number in relation to vascular bundles number and surface covered by phloem showed low and insignificant correlations, respectively.
Experimental validation of the reaction mechanism models of dechlorination and [Zn] reclaiming in the roasting steelmaking zinc-rich dust process
Authors: Wang Hongyang , Dong Kai , Zhu Rong
Published: April 2020

The reaction mechanism models of dechlorination and [Zn] reclaiming in the roasting steelmaking zincrich dust process are studied. The dust collected from a steelwork contains 63.8% zinc and 3.18% chlorine (mass percent), of which, almost all zinc elements exist in ZnO and ZnCl2forms, and all the chlorine elements are stored in ZnCl2. When the dust is roasted at above 732∘C in an air atmosphere, the ZnCl2in the steelmaking zinc-rich dust is volatilized into steam and then oxidized into ZnO. Finding the position where the chemical reaction occurs is the key to determining the reaction mechanisms of dechlorination and [Zn] reclaiming. In this study, two groups of thermal experiments are designed and executed for roasting in different atmosphere environments and at different roasting temperatures. Based on the experiment results, the mechanism model is discussed and built, and the reaction of dechlorination and [Zn] reclaiming is shown to be a multi-step process. Because O2from the air cannot transmit into the dust particle interior or dust bed effectively, the chemical reaction of [Zn] reclaiming occurs in the external gas environment outside of the dust, where the [Zn] recalcining reaction should be limited by the dynamics of new nucleation of ZnO solids.
A note on gradient elasticity and nonsingular crack fields
Authors: Aifantis Elias C.
Published: April 2020

No abstract available.
Some remarks on deformation, localization, and front propagation
Authors: Petsos George , Aifantis Elias C.
Published: April 2020

No abstract available.
On the strain gradient bending deformations
Authors: Lazopoulos Konstantinos A. , Lazopoulos Anastasios K.
Published: April 2020

Bending deformations are reviewed in the context of strain gradient linear elasticity, considering the complete set of strain gradient components. It is well understood that conventional bending deformations depend on the collective uniaxial extension of axial fibers resulting in the dependence on the curvature of the neutral geometry of various (linear or surface) structures. Nevertheless, the deformation of each fiber depends not only on the local curvature of the neutral geometry but also on the distance of the fiber from the neutral axis. Hence, the strain gradient tensor of the conventional bending strain should include not only components along the neutral axis but also those on the transverse direction. The problems of bending and buckling, along with geometrically non-linear and post-critical behavior, are reviewed in the context of strain gradient elasticity considering not only conventional bending strain but also the complete components of the strain gradient.
Size effects in nanostructured Li-ion battery cathode particles
Authors: Natarajan Sundararajan , Aifantis Katerina
Published: April 2020

Cathode materials for Li-ion batteries exhibit volume expansions on the order of 10% upon maximum lithium insertion. As a result internal stresses are produced and after continuous electrochemical cycling damage accumulates, which contributes to their failure. Battery developers resort to using smaller particle sizes in order to limit damage and some models have been developed to capture the effect of particle size on damage. In this paper, we present a gradient elasticity framework,which couples the mechanical equilibrium equations with Li-ion diffusion and allows the Young’s modulus to be a function of Li-ion concentration. As the constitutive equation involves higher order gradient terms, the conventional finite element method is not suitable, while, the two-way coupling necessitates the need for higher order shape functions. In this study, we employ B-spline functions with the framework of the iso-geometric analysis for the spatial discretization. The effect of the internal characteristic length on the concentration evolution and the hydrostatic stresses is studied. It is observed that the stress amplitude is significantly affected by the internal length, however, using either a constant Young’s modulus or a concentration dependent one yields similar results.
Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies of Participants in Experiential Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Kyguolienė Asta , Švipas Liudas
Published: April 2020

This study aims to analyse the personal entrepreneurship competencies of students participating in experiential entrepreneurship program. In the theory part, the paper analyses the recent studies done in the entrepreneurship competencies field and discusses the experiential entrepreneurship concept. Research focuses on finding out the level of personal entrepreneurial competencies of participants of experiential entrepreneurship education, also analysing the demographic profile of the respondents, comparing it with the current job status and their entrepreneurial intentions.
Consumer Loyalty Interfaces with Website Quality
Authors: Ūsas Antanas
Published: April 2020

The paper analyses the possibilities of how to increase customer loyalty by using different website quality tools. The research problem is defined as a question: How to link website quality and consumer loyalty? Data was gathered using scientific literature analysis and analysing other existing research. The results were provided based on the experts’ interviews.
Cluster-Adjusted DEA Efficiency in the presence of Heterogeneity: An Application to Banking Sector
Authors: Sakouvogui Kekoura , Shaik Saleem , Addey Kwame Asiam
Published: April 2020

This paper improves on the issues of extreme data points and heterogeneity found in the linear programming data envelopment analysis (DEA) by presenting a cluster-adjusted DEA model (DEA with cluster approach). This analysis, based on efficiency, determines the number of clusters via Gap statistic and Elbow methods. We use the December quarterly panel data consisting of 122 U.S agricultural banks across 37 states from 2000 to 2017 to estimate the cluster-adjusted DEA model. Empirical results show differences in the estimated DEA efficiency measures with and without a clustering approach. Furthermore, using non-parametric tests, the results of Ansari-Bradley, Kruskal Wallis, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests suggest that the cluster-adjusted DEA model provides statistically better efficiency measures in comparison to the DEA model without a clustering approach.
Endovascular and Thrombolytic Therapy and the Functional Status of Patients after Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Jabłońska Renata , Wronkowska Anna , Ślusarz Robert , Filipska Karolina , Meder Grzegorz , Sokal Paweł
Published: April 2020

Introduction. Stroke is treated as a direct threat to life. Mechanical thrombectomy used as an independent treatment or in combination with systemic thrombolysis is currently the standard care in the treatment of ischemic stroke.Aim. Evaluation of the functional status of patients after ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis or thrombectomy.Material and Methods. The study involved 50 patients hospitalized due to ischemic stroke. Standardized research tools were used: the Rankin scale, the Barthel scale and the Functional Index “Repty” (WFR). The study was conducted twice in one patient: on the first and ninth day after the treatment. The collected material was developed statistically.Results. Most of the respondents were men — 62%. Thrombolytic treatment was used in all subjects, and thrombectomy in 26% people. Analyses showed that there were differences in the Barthel scale level Z = 4.87; p < 0.001, Rankin Z = 4.80; p < 0.001 and WFR Z = 4.83; p < 0.001. The age of the respondents was related negatively to the Barthel scale score on the 1st day  = -0.51; p < 0.001 and the 9th day  = -0.53; p < 0.001 and the result in the WFR scale on the 1st day  = -0.54; p < 0.001 and the 9th day  = -0.52; p < 0.001.Conclusions. The performance of the subjects on the 1st day of treatment was worse than on the 9th day. People who were only treated with thrombolysis had better results in fitness tests and had a lower level of disability than people treated with thrombolysis and thrombectomy. (JNNN 2019;8(2):69–77)
Regulation of epidermal differentiation through KDF1‐mediated deubiquitination of IKKα
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Tang Liangfeng , Yue Jiping , Gou Xuewen , Lin Anning , Weatherbee Scott D , Wu Xiaoyang
Published: April 2020

Progenitor cells at the basal layer of skin epidermis play an essential role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and enhancing wound repair in skin. The proliferation, differentiation, and cell death of epidermal progenitor cells have to be delicately regulated, as deregulation of this process can lead to many skin diseases, including skin cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in skin homeostasis remain poorly defined. In this study, with quantitative proteomics approach, we identified an important interaction between KDF1 (keratinocyte differentiation factor 1) and IKKα (IκB kinase α) in differentiating skin keratinocytes. Ablation of either KDF1 or IKKα in mice leads to similar but striking abnormalities in skin development, particularly in skin epidermal differentiation. With biochemical and mouse genetics approach, we further demonstrate that the interaction of IKKα and KDF1 is essential for epidermal differentiation. To probe deeper into the mechanisms, we find that KDF1 associates with a deubiquitinating protease USP7 (ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 7), and KDF1 can regulate skin differentiation through deubiquitination and stabilization of IKKα. Taken together, our study unravels an important molecular mechanism underlying epidermal differentiation and skin tissue homeostasis.
Protein phosphatase PP2A regulates microtubule orientation and dendrite pruning in Drosophila
Authors: Rui Menglong , Ng Kay Siong , Tang Quan , Bu Shufeng , Yu Fengwei
Published: April 2020

Pruning that selectively eliminates inappropriate projections is crucial for sculpting neural circuits during development. During Drosophila metamorphosis, ddaC sensory neurons undergo dendrite‐specific pruning in response to the steroid hormone ecdysone. However, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying dendrite pruning remains incomplete. Here, we show that protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is required for dendrite pruning. The catalytic (Microtubule star/Mts), scaffolding (PP2A‐29B), and two regulatory subunits (Widerborst/Wdb and Twins/Tws) play important roles in dendrite pruning. Functional analyses indicate that PP2A, via Wdb, facilitates the expression of Sox14 and Mical prior to dendrite pruning. Furthermore, PP2A, via Tws, governs the minus‐end‐out orientation of microtubules (MTs) in the dendrites. Moreover, the levels of Klp10A, a MT depolymerase, increase when PP2A is compromised. Attenuation of Klp10A fully rescues the MT orientation defects in mts or pp2a‐29b RNAi ddaC neurons, suggesting that PP2A governs dendritic MT orientation by suppressing Klp10A levels and/or function. Taken together, this study sheds light on a novel function of PP2A in regulating dendrite pruning and dendritic MT polarity in sensory neurons.
tRIP‐seq reveals repression of premature polyadenylation by co‐transcriptional FUS‐U1 snRNP assembly
Authors: Masuda Akio , Kawachi Toshihiko , Takeda Jun‐ichi , Ohkawara Bisei , Ito Mikako , Ohno Kinji
Published: April 2020

RNA processing occurs co‐transcriptionally through the dynamic recruitment of RNA processing factors to RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). However, transcriptome‐wide identification of protein–RNA interactions specifically assembled on transcribing RNAPII is challenging. Here, we develop the targeted RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (tRIP‐seq) method that detects protein–RNA interaction sites in thousands of cells. The high sensitivity of tRIP‐seq enables identification of protein–RNA interactions at functional subcellular levels. Application of tRIP‐seq to the FUS‐RNA complex in the RNAPII machinery reveals that FUS binds upstream of alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites of nascent RNA bound to RNAPII, which retards RNAPII and suppresses the recognition of the polyadenylation signal by CPSF. Further tRIP‐seq analyses demonstrate that the repression of APA is achieved by a complex composed of FUS and U1 snRNP on RNAPII, but not by either one alone. Moreover, our analysis reveals that FUS mutations in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that impair the FUS‐U1 snRNP interaction aberrantly activate the APA sites. tRIP‐seq provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of co‐transcriptional RNA processing by RNA processing factors.
Arms for export? A reappraisal of the Brazilian arms industry
Authors: Da Silva Diego Lopes
Published: April 2020

There is a near-consensus among scholars and policymakers that the principal factor leading to Brazil’s arms industry crisis was its dependence on exports. However, the diffusion of the arms export-dependence argument contrasts with the lack of empirical support for it. Currently, there are no recent studies consistently estimating the overall size of Brazil’s arms production nor its reliance on external markets. Without a proper measurement of Brazil’s domestic procurement capacity, any assessment of its external dependence is only partial. To address this issue, this article uses data on domestic procurement previously introduced by the author to re-evaluate Brazil’s dependence on arms exports. While certainly important, the export-dependence argument has been overstated. Indeed, a fall in demand in the late 1980s led to a major decrease in Brazilian arms exports. However, the state managed to absorb a significant part of the production until mid-1990s. The data on domestic procurement sheds new light on institutional explanations for Brazil’s arms industry crisis.
Strategic choices by the incumbent and challenger during revolution and civil war
Authors: Hausken Kjell , Ncube Mthuli
Published: April 2020

A game is developed where an incumbent chooses between benefits provision to the population, which decreases the probability of revolution endogenously, and fighting with a challenger. Thereafter the challenger chooses a degree of fighting, which determines rent sharing. A successful revolution enables the challenger to replace the incumbent. An unsuccessful revolution preserves the status quo, or causes standoff or coalition. The four possibilities of incumbent replacement, status quo, standoff, or coalition combine with the incumbent either repressing (providing benefits below a threshold) or accommodating (providing benefits above a threshold) the population, for a total of eight outcomes. Such a rich conceptualization of eight outcomes of civil war is missing in the literature. We show how an advantaged versus disadvantaged incumbent deters or fights with a challenger, and provides versus does not provide benefits to the population. The eight outcomes are mapped to 87 revolutions 1961-2011.
Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as Organ Transplantation Recipients
Authors: Statter Mindy B. , Noritz Garey ,   COMMITTEE ON BIOETHICS, COUNCIL ON CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, Macauley Robert Conover , Geis Gina Marie , Laventhal Naomi Tricot , Opel Douglas J. , Sexson William R. , Kuo Dennis Z. , Apkon Susan , Brei Timothy J. , Davidson Lynn F. , Davis Beth Ellen , Ellerbeck Kathryn A. , Hyman Susan L. , Leppert Mary O’Connor , Stille Christopher J. , Yin Larry
Published: April 2020

The demand for transplantable solid organs far exceeds the supply of deceased donor organs. Patient selection criteria are determined by individual transplant programs; given the scarcity of solid organs for transplant, allocation to those most likely to benefit takes into consideration both medical and psychosocial factors. Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities have historically been excluded as potential recipients of organ transplants. When a transplant is likely to provide significant health benefits, denying a transplant to otherwise eligible children with disabilities may constitute illegal and unjustified discrimination. Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities should not be excluded from the potential pool of recipients and should be referred for evaluation as recipients of solid organ transplants.
Gestão de resultados: evidência europeia das empresas cotadas VERSUS não cotadas
Authors: Gaio Cristina , Gonçalves Tiago , Azevedo Raquel
Published: April 2020

Este estudo analisa a prática de gestão de resultados em empresas europeias cotadas e não cotadas. A amostra é composta por 8.752 empresas de nove países europeus, para o período de 2005 a 2012. Como medida de gestão de resultados, é usado o nível de accruals discricionários, calculado segundo o modelo de Jones, modificado por Dechow, Sloan e Sweeney. Os principais resultados sugerem que as empresas não cotadas pratiquem mais gestão de resultados do que as empresas cotadas. Essa tendência existe quer nos países common law, quer nos países code law, sendo a diferença mais pronunciada no primeiro grupo de países. Existe também evidência de que as empresas cotadas tendem a gerir mais os resultados no sentido descendente do que as não cotadas, o que sugere um relato financeiro mais conservador. Conjuntamente, esses resultados sugerem que as empresas cotadas europeias apresentem melhor qualidade de resultados do que as suas congéneres não cotadas. Os resultados contribuem para a escassa literatura com foco nas empresas não cotadas, cuja importância no tecido empresarial e na economia europeia é bastante elevada, sendo as conclusões deste estudo de particular interesse para investidores e reguladores.
Relação entre os artefatos de contabilidade gerencial e o ciclo de vida organizacional de empresas do setor de consumo cíclico
Authors: Zanievicz da Silva Márcia , Marques Leandro , Cecon Bianca
Published: April 2020

O presente estudo teve por objetivo relacionar os artefatos de contabilidade gerencial empregados pelas empresas do setor de consumo cíclico e os estágios de ciclo de vida a que elas pertenciam. Para tanto, desenvolveu-se um estudo descritivo, por meio de análise documental e da abordagem quali-quantitativa de dados. A população do estudo compreendeu 66 empresas listadas na bolsa de valores b3, sendo a amostra final composta por 44 empresas pertencentes ao setor de consumo cíclico. Para verificar a relação entre os artefatos de contabilidade gerencial e o ciclo de vida das empresas, utilizou-se a análise de correspondências, uma vez que ambas as variáveis do estudo eram categóricas. Os resultados evidenciaram que as empresas em estágio de crescimento tendem a utilizar artefatos de contabilidade gerencial caracterizados pela literatura como modernos, e as empresas em estágio de maturidade tendem a utilizar artefatos caracterizados como tradicionais. Por sua vez, o estágio de declínio não apresentou proximidade com nenhuma das categorias de artefatos. Esse achado diverge da literatura em relação à sofisticação das práticas gerenciais conforme a empresa progride nos estágios de ciclo de vida, porém concorda com evidências empíricas que indicam o abandono de práticas sofisticadas por empresas em estágio de declínio.
Influencia del uso de herramientas en la gestión de la fase temprana del proceso de innovación de productos
Authors: Seclen-Luna Jean Pierre , López-Valladares Hellen
Published: April 2020

La fase temprana del proceso de innovación se caracteriza por presentar una alta incertidumbre, por lo que las empresas tienen que encontrar nuevas oportunidades de productos y definir su propuesta de valor. A pesar de que existe una amplia literatura que aborda la evaluación del proceso de innovación, aún son escasos los estudios que se centran en la evaluación de la fase temprana. Nuestros resultados evidencian que el uso de herramientas de apoyo para la gestión de la fase temprana del proceso de innovación tiene una influencia positiva sobre la innovación del producto. El análisis es llevado a cabo sobre la base de una triangulación metodológica secuencial, debido al pequeño tamaño de la muestra que es de 84 empresas innovadoras peruanas.
Evaluación de una modificación en la norma ASTM C1609 para el estudio de concreto reforzado con fibras sintéticas sometido a flexión
Authors: Villalobos Francisco , Paniagua Murillo Kenneth J.
Published: April 2020

En el presente trabajo se evalua la viabilidad de una modificación a la norma ASTM C1609 con el fin de sentar evidencia de la conveniencia en la aplicación, o no, de ese estándar para ensayar concreto reforzado con fibras sintéticas (SNFRC) sometido a flexión. Igualmente, se buscó realizar una comparación entre los resultados de tal norma con respecto a los que provee el estándar europeo EN14651. Se determinó un comportamiento pseudodúctil del material en el que la incorporación de fibras le permite resistir cierta carga aun después de alcanzar su módulo de ruptura. La reducción en la velocidad de ensayo aumentó las probabilidades de tener resultados exitosos vía ASTM C1609, especialmente cuando el SNFRC tiene poca fibra añadida. Además, la modificación de velocidad no implicó alteraciones en los resultados del ensayo. Por otra parte, se encontró que la norma europea no produce problemas en la ejecución del ensayo, sin embargo, sus resultados no fueron en todos los casos comparables con lo obtenido a través de la norma norteamericana.
Desgaste superficial de adoquines: implementación y ajustes en la normativa ecuatoriana
Authors: Realpe Rivadeneira Guillermo Ricardo
Published: April 2020

El control de calidad de los adoquines en el Ecuador ha permanecido invariable desde 1987, utilizando como criterio de calidad y durabilidad el valor de la resistencia a la compresión del bloque bajo el concepto de indicador global. Supone este indicador que al cumplir la especificación de resistencia, cubrirá exigencias tal como el  desgaste superficial, por tanto la expectativas de la vida útil de la capa de rodadura. Sin embargo en los últimos años se ha verificado de manera general un deterioro temprano de las superficies de los adoquines a pesar del cumplimiento de los requerimientos de compresión establecidos en la norma ecuatoriana. En estas condiciones la Universidad, la industria de la construcción y el Instituto de normalización ecuatoriana decidieron dar origen a una nueva norma de control en el que se desglosa el indicador en varios parámetros físicos y mecánicos, empleando como documento base la norma europea EN 1338. Entre los parámetros, la cuantificación y valoración del desgaste superficial se constituyó en de mayor interés, tanto por el desconocimiento de la capacidad de desgaste superficial de la mayor parte de la producción en el país, así como el método de ensayo a utilizarse. El presente artículo,   sobre la base de un tradicional análisis estadístico de 516 ensayos de desgaste superficial por medio del método de la banda ancha (EN 1338) realizados en el laboratorio de Materiales de Construcción de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador entre los años 2010 a 2015, verificó el comportamiento de distribución normal simétrico en los dos lotes en el que fueron clasificados los datos; uno correspondientes a fábricas que mantienen procesos de control de calidad y otro a fábricas sin control  además, cuantificó el valor de huella característico según el método de ensayo de desgaste en el período de análisis. Por medio de la información obtenida se ha justificado la necesidad del control del desgaste superficial así como la recomendación de establecer una especificación para el Ecuador, diferente a la establecida en la norma europea.
A minimális reziduális betegség vizsgálata krónikus limfoid leukémiában
Authors: Takács Ferenc , Kardos Ilona , Czeti Ágnes , Aczél Dóra , Illés Sarolta , Balogh Alexandra , Gaál-Weisinger Júlia , Szalóki Gábor , Barna Gábor
Published: April 2020

Absztrakt:

A krónikus limfoid leukémia (CLL) a leggyakoribb felnőttkori leukémia a fejlett
országokban. A CLL egy indolens lefolyású, gyógyíthatatlan betegség, mely a
kezelést követő relapszusokkal járhat, emiatt a betegek folyamatos követése
szükséges. Az elmúlt évek bővülő terápiás lehetőségei (pl.: alemtuzumab,
venetoclax) lehetővé tették a daganatos sejtek mennyiségének tartós és
drasztikus csökkenését, ezért szükségessé vált a visszatérő betegség minél
érzékenyebb detektálása. Erre nyújt lehetőséget a minimális, újabban mérhető
reziduális betegség (minimal residual disease: MRD)
meghatározása áramlási citometriai és molekuláris genetikai vizsgálati
módszerekkel. Az MRD-szint és a túlélés összefüggését vizsgáló klinikai
tanulmányok egyértelművé tették, hogy az alacsonyabb MRD-szint hosszabb
túléléssel jár együtt. Bár az MRD meghatározása jelenleg nem a klinikai rutin
része, amennyiben a jelenleg még futó klinikai vizsgálatok eredményei indokolttá
teszik meghatározását, áramlási citometriai módszeren alapuló vizsgálata a rutin
diagnosztika része lehet majd.
Clinical and immunological features of metabolic phenotype of osteoarthritis
Authors: Shirinsky V. S. , Kalinovskaya N. Yu. , Filatova K. Yu. , Shirinsky I. V.
Published: April 2020

Forty women with gonarthrosis were included in this study. The main group consisted of 19 patients having osteoarthritis (OA) with metabolic syndrome (MS), the control group consisted of 21 patients with OA but without MS. It was found that metabolic phenotype of gonarthrosis, i.e. OA with concomitant MS, was different from OA without MS in terms of pain measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) (65 mm in the main group vs 47 mm in control group, р = 0.001) and other OA symptoms in accordance with Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (KOOS) (43.2 points in the main group vs 76.1 points in the control group, р = 0.001). These main distinguishing features were associated with low quality of life measured with non-specific questionnaire Short Form -36 (SF-36) (30 points in the main group and 40 points in the control) and clinically significant signs of depression, detected with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (12 points in the main group and 7 points in the control group). The metabolic phenotype of gonarthrosis was characterized with laboratory features of low-grade systemic inflammation as evidenced by increased CRP (11.4 mg/ml in the main group vs 3.2 mg/ml in the control group, р = 0.03), IL-6 (2.6 pg/ml in the main group vs 0.7 pg/ml in the control group, р = 0.001), IL-18 (196.6 pg/ml in the main group vs 61.4 pg/ml in the control group, р = 0.001) in the peripheral blood serum, as well as increase in antibodies against Col2 (27.1 ng/ml in the main vs 5.5 ng/ml in the control group, р = 0.01) , and dyslipidaemia — increase in LDL-cholesterol (5.5 mmol/l in the main group vs 5.9 mmol/l in the control group, р = 0.032) and triglycerides (2.026 mmol/l in the main group and 1.36 mmol/l in the control gropu, р = 0.02). In conclusion, MS-associated OA phenotype occurs due to pathogenetic similarities between OA and MS (syntropy) based on systemic low grade inflammation. This OA phenotype is not well studied and needs further research to develop new treatments targeting these two comorbid disorders as a single disease.
Obtainingvaccinia virus with increased production of extracellular enveloped virions and directing GM-CSF synthesis as a promising basis for development of antitumor drug
Authors: Bauer T. V. , Tregubchak T. V. , Shchelkunov S. N. , Maksyutov R. A. , Gavrilova E. V.
Published: April 2020

The problems of oncological disease treatment are considered relevant and timely issues of the current research programs. Since monotherapy is increasingly clear to be less effective than combination therapy, the novel studies seek for advancement of current treatments and development of new ones employing oncolytic immunotherapy being among the most rapidly evolving approaches. Modern genetic engineering techniques enable new applications of oncolytic viruses in the frames of combined cancer therapy. These applications are feasible, due to the abilities of oncolytic viruses to destruct tumor cells, like as by changing susceptibility of cancer cells to anti-tumor drug, and upon the whole body, thus overcoming the mechanisms conferring immunoresistance of tumor cells. In the present work, we have developed a recombinant vaccinia virus which is a promising platform for designing the antitumor drugs. The following modifications of viral genome were made by means of genetic engineering: gene encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was inserted into the region of viral thymidine kinase gene; viral A34R gene encoding a membrane glycoprotein, was replaced by A34R gene with two nucleotide substitutions resulting into D110N and K151E mutations which cause increased proportion of extracellular enveloped virions during the virus reproduction. Some properties of the recombinant virus were studied in vitro. The virus was shown to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and high numbers of extracellular enveloped virions. The genome modifications had no effect upon viral replication.
COVID-19: Implicações e aplicações da Psicologia Positiva em tempos de pandemia
Authors: Zanon Cristian , Lovato Dellazzana Zanon Leticia , Muglia Weschler Solange , Rodrigues Fabretti Rodrigo , Naleivako da Rocha Karina
Published: April 2020

A pandemia causada pela dispersão do COVID-19 no mundo obrigou muitos países a adotarem a quarentena como medida de contenção do vírus. Pesquisas prévias indicam que pessoas submetidas a quarentenas desenvolvem sintomas psicológicos variados principalmente relacionados a estresse, ansiedade e depressão devido à privação social e ao confinamento. Este manuscrito objetiva apresentar pesquisas produzidas pela Psicologia Positiva e indicar como estes achados podem subsidiar intervenções para promoção de saúde mental e bem-estar durante a quarentena. Dentre os construtos descritos, destacam-se pesquisas sobre autocompaixão, resiliência, criatividade, otimismo, bem-estar subjetivo e práticas de meditação mindfulness para lidar com os efeitos adversos da quarentena. Considerações e implicações destas práticas são discutidas em detalhes.
Caring for Patients with Advanced Stage Cancer at the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Brunello Antonella , Zagonel Vittorina
Published: April 2020

This letter to the editor alerts oncologists to the importance of accurately defining benefit-risk ratio during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with advanced-stage cancer treated with chemotherapy after failure of first-line and second-line therapy.