bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitotic arrest affects clustering of tumor cells
Authors: Bonnet Julia , Rigal Lise , Mondesert Odile , Morin Renaud , Corsaut Gaelle , Vigneau Mathieu , Ducommun Bernard , Lobjois Valerie
Published: December 2020

BackgroundCancer cell aggregation is a key process involved in the formation of tumor cell clusters. It has recently been shown that clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have an increased metastatic potential compared to isolated circulating tumor cells. Several widely used chemotherapeutic agents that target the cytoskeleton microtubules and cause cell cycle arrest at mitosis have been reported to modulate CTC number or the size of CTC clusters.ResultsIn this study, we investigated in vitro the impact of mitotic arrest on the ability of breast tumor cells to form clusters. By using live imaging and quantitative image analysis, we found that MCF-7 cancer cell aggregation is compromised upon incubation with paclitaxel or vinorelbine, two chemotherapeutic drugs that target microtubules. In line with these results, we observed that MCF-7 breast cancer cells experimentally synchronized and blocked in metaphase aggregated poorly and formed loose clusters. To monitor clustering at the single-cell scale, we next developed and validated an in vitro assay based on live video-microscopy and custom-designed micro-devices. The study of cluster formation from MCF-7 cells that express the fluorescent marker LifeAct-mCherry using this new assay allowed showing that substrate anchorage-independent clustering of MCF-7 cells was associated with the formation of actin-dependent highly dynamic cell protrusions. Metaphase-synchronized and blocked cells did not display such protrusions, and formed very loose clusters that failed to compact.ConclusionsAltogether, our results suggest that mitotic arrest induced by microtubule-targeting anticancer drugs prevents cancer cell clustering and therefore, could reduce the metastatic potential of circulating tumor cells.
Study on Suitable Analysis Method for HIV-1 Non-catalytic Integrase Inhibitor
Authors: Park Ki Hoon , Kim Minjee , Bae Seoung Eun , Lee Hee Jung , Kim Kyung-Chang , Choi Byeong Sun , Kim Young Bong
Published: December 2020

Background: Integrase (IN) is an essential protein for HIV replication that catalyzes insertion of the reverse-transcribed viral genome into the host chromosome during the early steps of viral infection. Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) is a HIV/AIDS treatment method that combines three or more antiviral drugs often formulated from compounds that inhibit the activities of viral reverse transcriptase and protease enzymes. Early IN inhibitors (INIs) mainly serve as integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) that disrupt strand transfer by binding the catalytic core domain (CCD) of IN. However, mutations of IN can confer resistance to INSTI. Therefore, non-catalytic integrase inhibitors (NCINI) have been developed as next-generation INIs. Methods: In this study, we evaluated and compared the activity of INSTI and NCINI according to the analysis method. Antiviral activity was compared using p24 ELISA with MT2 cell and TZM-bl luciferase system with TZM-bl cell. Each drug was serially diluted and treated to MT2 and TZM-b1 cells, infected with HIV-1 AD8 strain and incubated for 5 and 2 days, respectively. Additionally, to analyze properties of INSTI and NCINI, transfer inhibition assay and 3'-processing inhibition assay were performed. Results: During screening of INIs using the p24 ELISA and TZM-bl luciferase systems, we found an inconsistent result with INSTI and NCINI drugs. Following infection of MT2 and TZM-bl cells with T-tropic HIV-1 strain, both INSTI and NCINI treatments induced significant p24 reduction in MT2 cells. However, NCINI showed no antiviral activity in the TZM-bl luciferase system, indicating that this widely used and convenient antiretroviral assay is not suitable for screening of NCINI compounds that target the second round of HIV-1 replication. Conclusion: Accordingly, we recommend application of other assay procedures, such as p24 ELISA or reverse transcription activity, in lieu of the TZM-bl luciferase system for preliminary NCINI drug screening. Utilization of appropriate analytical methods based on underlying mechanisms is necessary for accurate assessment of drug efficacy.
Sleep quality and athletic performance according to chronotype
Authors: Lim Seung-Taek , Kim Do-Yoon , Kwon Hyeong-Tae , Lee Eunjae
Published: December 2020

Background: When studying the quality of sleep in relation to athletic performance, the athlete's chronotype and habitual time consider important factors. We aim to investigate the sleep quality and athletes’ performance according to chronotype in elite athletes.Methods: Three hundred forty elite athletes (males = 261, females = 79) were recruited for the present study. All participants were screening for chronotype by the Korean versions of the Morningness - Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ-K). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) were measurement after screening.Results: PSQI global score, PSQI sleep quality, PSQI sleep onset latency, PSQI sleep disturbance, and PSQI daytime dysfunction were significant differences among the groups. WAnT mean power (W), mean power (W/kg), peak power (W), and peak power (W/kg) were significant differences among the groups. A negative correlation coefficient was found between PSQI score and WAnT mean power (W) (r= -0.256, p <0.01), mean power (W/kg) (r= -0.270, p <0.01), peak power (W) (r= -0.220, p <0.01), and peak power (W/kg) (r= -0.248, p <0.01).Conclusions: This study indicates that related poor sleep quality and late-type chronotype may reduce the athletes’ performance in elite athletes. In addition, the sleep quality is much higher in the early-type chronotype than in the late-type chronotype. Moreover, it also the athletic performance was better in the early-type chronotype than in the late-type chronotype.
Evaluation of Convalescent Plasma Versus Standard of Care for the Treatment of COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients: study protocol for a phase 2 randomized, open-label, controlled, multicenter trial
Authors: Diago-Sempere Elena , Sancho-López Aranzazu , Bueno Jose Luis , Múñez-Rubio Elena , Torres Ferran , de Molina Rosa Malo , Fernández-Cruz Ana , de Diego Isabel Salcedo , Velasco-Iglesias Ana , Payares-Herrera Concepción , Casas-Flecha Inmaculada , Avendaño-Solá Cristina , Palomino Rafael Duarte , Ramos-Martínez Antonio , Ruiz-Antorán Belén
Published: December 2020

Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. At the time this clinical trial was planned, there were no available vaccine or therapeutic agents with proven efficacy, but the severity of the condition prompted the use of several pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. It has long been hypothesized that the use of convalescent plasma (CP) from infected patients who have developed an effective immune response is likely to be an option for the treatment of patients with a variety of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) of viral etiology. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma in adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods/Design: The ConPlas-19 study is a multicenter, randomized, open-label controlled trial. The study has been planned to include 278 adult patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infection not requiring mechanical ventilation (invasive or non-invasive). Subjects are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio (139 per treatment arm), stratified by center, to receive intravenously administered CP (single infusion) plus SOC or SOC alone, and are to be followed for 30 days. The primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients that progress to categories 5, 6 or 7 (on the 7-point ordinal scale proposed by the WHO) at day 15. Interim analyses for efficacy and/or futility will be conducted once 20%, 40%, and 60% of the planned sample size are enrolled and complete D15 assessment.Discussion: This clinical trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of passive immunotherapy with convalescent plasma for the treatment of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The results of this study are expected to contribute to establishing the potential place of CP in the therapeutics for a new viral disease. Trial registration: Trial registration at clinicaltrials.gov; Registration Number: NCT04345523; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04345523; Registered on 30 March, 2020. First posted date: April 14, 2020.
The Clinical Value of Ficolin-3 Gene Polymorphism in Rheumatic Heart Disease. An Egyptian Adolescents Study
Authors: Gomaa Maher H. , Khidr Emad Gamil , Elshafei Ahmed , Hamza Hala S. , Fattouh Aya M. , El-Husseiny Ahmed A. , Aglan Ahmed , Eldeib Mahmoud Gomaa
Published: December 2020

Objective: Ficolin-3 is one of the innate immunity molecules that was thought to play a pivotal role in Streptococcus pyogenes autoimmunity and its complications; rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We aimed to disclose if there is an association between ficolin-3 (FCN3) gene polymorphisms (rs4494157 and rs10794501) and RF with or without RHD for the first time in Egyptian adolescents. Results: Serum ficolin-3 level was significantly elevated in patients suffering from RF with and without RHD in comparison with control. Regarding FCN3 gene (rs4494157) polymorphism, a significant correlation was found between the A allele and the susceptibility to RF with or without RHD (OR=2.93, P=0.0002 and OR=2.23, P=0.008 respectively). Besides, AA homozygous genotype showed a significant association with RHD risk (OR=3.47, P=0.026). Patients carrying the A allele (CA+AA) had significantly higher serum ficolin-3 than those carrying the CC genotype (P˂ 0.0001). While the frequency of (rs10794501) polymorphism revealed no significant differences between the controls and RF patients with or without RHD (OR=1.43, P=0.261 and OR=1.48, P=0.208 respectively).
Extended Adverse Effects of Cyclophosphamide on Mouse Ovarian Function
Authors: Kim Jihyun , You Sooseong
Published: December 2020

Purpose: Most patients with cancer undergo multiple administrations of anticancer drugs during treatment, resulting in chronic impairment of their reproductive health. As improved treatment options increase cancer survival, it has become increasingly important to address fertility issues in cancer survivors. In this study, we examined the pathophysiological effects of multiple exposures to cyclophosphamide (Cy) on the ovaries of mice and their underlying molecular mechanism.Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg Cy six times over 2 weeks; 4 weeks later, the mice were sacrificed and their ovaries, sera, and oocytes were collected for histological observation, measurement of anti-Müllerian hormone levels, and assessment of oocyte quantity and quality in response to hormonal stimulation. Gene expression changes in Cy-treated ovaries were examined by microarray and bioinformatics analyses.Results: After repeated Cy exposure, the anti-Müllerian hormone level was decreased, and follicle loss and impairments in the quality of oocyte were irreversible. The expression levels of genes involved in folliculogenesis, oogenesis, and zona pellucida glycoprotein transcription displayed sustained alterations in Cy-exposed ovaries even after 4 weeks.Conclusion: The adverse effects of Cy on ovarian function and oocytes remained even after chemotherapy was complete. Therefore, strategies to prevent ovarian damage or restore ovarian function after treatment are required to safeguard the fertility of young cancer survivors.
H2V: a database of human genes and proteins that respond to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV infection
Authors: Zhou Nan , Bao Jinku , Ning Yuping
Published: December 2020

BackgroundThe ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus first discovered at the end of 2019. It has led to more than 50 million confirmed cases and more than 1 million deaths across 219 countries as of 11 November 2020, according to WHO statistics. SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV are similar. They are highly pathogenic and threaten public health, impair the economy, and inflict long-term impacts on society. No drug or vaccine has been approved as a treatment for these viruses. Efforts to develop antiviral measures have been hampered by the insufficient understanding of how the human body responds to viral infections at the cellular and molecular levels.ResultsIn this study, journal articles and transcriptomic and proteomic data surveying coronavirus infections were collected. Response genes and proteins were then identified by differential analyses comparing gene/protein levels between infected and control samples. Finally, the H2V database was created to contain the human genes and proteins that respond to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV infection.ConclusionsH2V provides molecular information about the human response to infection. It can be a powerful tool to discover cellular pathways and processes relevant for viral pathogenesis to identify potential drug targets. It is expected to accelerate the process of antiviral agent development and to inform preparations for potential future coronavirus-related emergencies. The database is available at: http://www.zhounan.org/h2v.
Rhizosphere community selection reveals bacteria associated with reduced root disease
Authors: Yin Chuntao , Vargas Juan M. Casa , Schlatter Daniel C. , Hagerty Christina H. , Hulbert Scot H. , Paulitz Timothy
Published: December 2020

Background: Microbes benefit plants by increasing nutrient availability, producing plant growth hormones, and protecting against pathogens. However, it is largely unknown how plants change root microbial communities.Results: In this study, we used a multi-cycle selection system and infection by the soilborne fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG8 (hereafter AG8) to examine how plants impact the rhizosphere bacterial community and recruit beneficial microorganisms to suppress soilborne fungal pathogens and promote plant growth. Successive plantings dramatically enhanced disease suppression on susceptible wheat cultivars to AG8 in the greenhouse. Accordingly, analysis of the rhizosphere soil microbial community using deep sequencing of 16S rRNA genes revealed distinct bacterial community profiles assembled over successive wheat plantings. Moreover, the cluster of bacterial communities formed from the AG8-infected rhizosphere was distinct from those without AG8 infection. Interestingly, the bacterial communities from the rhizosphere with the lowest wheat root disease gradually separated from those with the worst wheat root disease over planting cycles. Successive monocultures and application of AG8 increased the abundance of some bacterial genera which have potential antagonistic activities, such as Chitinophaga, Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium, and Flavobacterium, and a group of plant growth-promoting (PGP) and nitrogen-fixing microbes, including Pedobacter, Variovorax, and Rhizobium. Furthermore, 47 bacteria isolates belong to 35 species were isolated. Among them, eleven and five exhibited antagonistic activities to AG8 and Rhizoctonia oryzae in vitro, respectively. Notably, Janthinobacterium displayed broad antagonism against the soilborne pathogens Pythium ultimum, AG8, and R. oryzae in vitro, and disease suppressive activity to AG8 in soil.Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that successive wheat plantings and pathogen infection can shape the rhizosphere microbial communities and specifically accumulate a group of beneficial microbes. Our findings suggest that soil community selection may offer the potential for addressing agronomic concerns associated with plant diseases and crop productivity.
COVID-19 Case Prediction and Outbreak Control of Navy Cluster in Sri Lanka: Effectiveness of SIR Model
Authors: Wijesekara N.W.A.N.Y. , Herath Nayomi , Kodituwakku K.A.L.C. , Herath H.D.B. , Ginige Samitha , Ruwanpathirana Thilanga , Kariyawasam Manjula , Samaraweera Sudath , Herath Anuruddha , Jayawardena Senarupa , Gamge Deepa
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can spread contagiously fast in semi-confined places, which demand prompt public health interventions such as isolation and quarantine for their effective control. An outbreak of COVID-19 was reported within a cluster of Navy personnel in the Western Province of Sri Lanka commencing from 22nd April 2020. In response, an aggressive outbreak management program was launched by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health supported by the Sri Lanka Navy. The objective of this research was to predict possible number of cases within the susceptible population in Sri Lanka Navy. Methods: COVID-19 Hospital Impact Model for Epidemics (CHIME) developed by Predictive Health Care Team at Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, USA, which was a Susceptibility, Infected and Removed (SIR) model was used. The model was run on 20.05.2020 for a susceptible population of 10400, with number of hospitalized patients on the day of running the model being 357, first case hospitalized on 22.04.2020 and social distancing being implemented on 26.04.2020. Social distancing scenarios of 0, 25, 50 and 74% were run with 10 days of infectious period and 30 days of projection period. Results: With increasing social distancing measures, the peak number of infected persons decreased, and the duration of the curve extended. With increasing social distancing from 0% to 74%, the date on which the peak number of infected cases was reported increased from 49th day to the 54th day, the doubling time increased from 3.1 days to 4.1 days, the Ro decreased from 3.54 to 2.83, and expected daily growth rate decreased from 25.38% to 18.53%. The number of COVID-19 cases prevented as per the model ranged from 2.3 – 21.1 %, compared to the base line prediction of no social distancing. When comparing the observed number of cases with the baseline model with no social distancing, a 90.3% reduction was observed. Conclusion: The research demonstrated the practical use of a prediction model made readily available through an online open-source platform for the operational aspects of controlling outbreaks such as COVID-19 in a closed community. Predictive modelling is a useful tool for outbreak management.
On Misinterpretation of Course and Instruction Evaluation Data: How Relying Solely on Mean Scores Can Distort Score Meaning
Authors: Royal Kenneth D.
Published: December 2020

One of the fundamental components of basic statistics is to examine a data distribution, namely its centre (median, mean, etc.), shape (skewness, symmetry, modality, etc.) and spread (variability, range, etc.). When examining research data, most educators are keenly aware of these fundamentals, but curiously seem to forget these fundamentals when examining course and instructor evaluation data. What often occurs is evaluators rely solely on mean score ratings as the basis for making inferences about a course and/or its instructor(s). This is problematic because a mean score alone does not illustrate the underlying score distribution, which in turn could completely alter the meaning of the data. The aim of this article is to present an illustrative example from basic statistics illustrating how course and instructor evaluation score inferences may be distorted by the underlying distribution of scores, thus threatening the validity of the measures. Suggestions for improving data reporting are provided.
A calculation model for the heat capacity of beef with different moisture during freezing taking into account free water crystallization
Authors: Belozerov A. G. , Berezovskiy Y. M. , Korolev I. A. , Sarantsev T. A.
Published: December 2020

The paper proposes a model for the process of free moisture crystallization in beef within the framework of the Debye concept with establishment of dependencies of model parameters on the initial moisture content. Model adequacy was validated by comparison of the calculation results with the results of the experiments on determination of values of heat capacity and phase transition enthalpy in beef with different initial moisture obtained by the differential scanning calorimetry method. It is shown that the end of free water phase transition in beef with initial moisture in a range of 37% to 80% occurs at a temperature of 243 К. Calculation dependencies of parameters of the model used for calculation of beef heat capacity are presented.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN ANTI-CORRUPTION TO SUSTAIN ECONOMIC GROWTH
Authors: Pratama Muhammad Arfan
Published: December 2020

Corruption is an extraordinary crime which gives domino effect on government systems. The impacts include low economic growth and high poverty rate. Corruption enriches certain class only so that the budget which is allocated for the development of the country cannot be fully absorbed. Public service facilities for health, education, and administration cannot operate optimally due to the stalled building construction. To increase the economic growth of a country, a structured improvement is needed by involving the role of citizen in monitoring the government system. The development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enhances the transparency of ongoing government systems and public services. Studies conducted by Qiang (2009) and Andersen (2009) showed that the implementation of ICT proved to be able to increase economic growth in developing and developed countries with an increase in GDP. Khan and Majeed (2019) also proved that the implementation of ICT and E-Government also increased GDP for Southeast Asian countries in the period 1980-2015. The ICT developments include e-government, big data analysis, blockchain technology, and whistleblowing systems. The implementation of ICT in government systems, such as licensing systems and procurement systems, provides increased transparency and quality so that economic growth also increases. It takes a lot of money to implement ICT in the government system, but it also becomes an opportunity for state officials to abuse their authority. An example of the use of ICT in Indonesia is the procurement of E-ID Cards. Therefore, the integrated whistleblowing system can be sought to guard the benefits of implementing ICT in increasing economic growth.
Streptomyces and Bacillus Keratinases: Properties and Uses
Authors: Dmitrieva Anastasia , Alexeyenko Andrey , Belova Daria , Piskaeva Nina , Tereshchuk Lyubovʼ
Published: December 2020

Introduction. Feather waste is a promising source of feed protein. Its chemical composition is a valuable source of nutrients and can become an important component of feed additives. The research objective was to screen bacteria with a high keratinolytic activity and develop a bio-product based on a bacterial consortium in order to recycle complex organic poultry waste, thus reducing the anthropogenic load on the ecosystem.

Study objects and methods. The research featured lyophilized strains of microorganisms provided by State Research Institute “Gosniigenetika” and feather waste provided by Kuzbass Broiler LLC (Russia, Novokuznetsk district). The study involved such advanced bioinformatic methods of data processing as phylogenetic identification of enzymes and InParanoid 8 algorithm for searching orthologous genes. The standard biotechnological methods included an electrophoretic analysis in polyacrylamide gel, an analysis of amino acid composition, a microscopy, and a high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results and discussion. Keratinolytic strains were screened using protein sequence databases. The homologous keratinase strains with homology of more than 98% appeared to belong to the genera Streptomyces and Bacillus. The research helped to identify groups of enzymes that are potentially involved in keratin degradation. The selected enzymes were subjected to a phylogenetic identification based on InParanoid 8, a specialized algorithm of orthologous genes search.

Conclusion. The experiment made it possible to select four strains of microorganisms with maximum enzymatic activity in relation to keratin. These strains included bacteria of the genus Bacillus, namely Bacillus licheniformis B-740, Bacillus pumilus B-508 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051, and the bacterium Streptomyces albidoflavus ATCC 25422. These strains were used to create a biocompatible consortium for processing feather waste into a feed additive. The research confirmed the presence of biologically valuable substances in the obtained hydrolysates, as well as the possibility of their use as a high-protein component of feed additives for farm animals.
Biochemical and Microstructural Profile of the Thyroid Gland from Lambs Raised on Experimental Diets
Authors: Giro Tatyana , Kulikovsky Andrey , Knyazeva Alexandra , Domnitsky Ivan , Giro Anna
Published: December 2020

Introduction. The present research featured biochemical and microstructural features of thyroid glands obtained from lambs raised on various feeds enriched with essential elements. The article focuses on iodine as the most important physiologically active microelement. Iodine participates in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, namely thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which are known to regulate metabolic processes. Iodine deficiency may impair reproductive function and cause such diseases as endemic goiter. Study objects and methods. The study involved thyroid glands from lambs of the Edilbaev breed aged seven months. The lambs were divided into four experimental groups, ten animals in each. The lambs received several feed additives. Ioddar-Zn and DAFS-25 had a balanced protein and carbohydrate content, while the mineral feed of Coretron brand contained such trace elements and minerals as iodine, selenium, and silicon. Results and discussion. The experiment made it possible to describe the microstructural profile of the thyroid glands extracted from seven-month-old lambs raised on feeds enriched with iodine and selenium. Ioddar-Zn and DAFS-25 did not harm the structure of the thyroid tissue, while causing its functional activation in some cases. The morphological parameters of the thyroid glands indicated some breed differences. The iodine concentration in the thyroid glands obtained from the experimental animals was five or six times higher than that in the control group. The content of mono- and diiodotyrosine depended on the accumulation profile of organic iodine. Conclusion. Diets enforced with DAFS-25, Ioddar-Zn, silicon, and a protein-carbohydrate complex produced no negative effect on the structure of the thyroid tissue. It fact, the diet increased the organic iodine content in the thyroid glands in the form of iodotyrosines. The gland structure revealed some cubic epithelium or follicular cells. The mass spectrometric studies confirmed the presence of covalently bound iodine in the form of mono- and diiodotyrosine. Thus, the abovementioned feed additives can be recommended for industrial use.
Microplasma Pretreatment f Mango Fruits During Freeze Drying with Thermoelectric Emission
Authors: Sosnin Maxim , Shorstkii Ivan
Published: December 2020

Introduction. The research objective was to study the effect of filamentous microplasma pretreatment on the efficiency of freeze drying. It featured mango fruit and assessed the quality of the dried product. Year-round availability of exotic fruit poses a challenge of providing consumers with high-quality food products. Freeze-drying, if combined with advanced electrophysical technologies, makes it possible to maintain the high quality of the product while improving the processing. This non-thermal method technology presupposes pretreatment with filamentous microplasma (FM) and thermoelectric emission. FM affects the membrane of plant cells and forms a through channel, thus improving mass transfer. Study objects and methods. Before freeze-drying, fresh mango fruit was cut into slices of 6.0 ± 0.5 mm each and the average diameter of 72 ± 3 mm. Freeze-dried fruits were analyzed according to the degree of rehydration and quality. FM treatment was performed at the electric field strength E = 600 kV/m, while the specific energy was 1 kJ/kg per unit. Results and discussion. FM pretreatment with thermoelectric emission reduced the drying time by 38%, which was enough to achieve equilibrium moisture content. It also increased the degree of rehydration from 2.58 to 3.14. FM pretreatment raised the total content of phenols and carotenoids, but reduced the total content of flavonoids. FM pretreatment also affected the antioxidant capacity, reducing it from 0.43 to 0.41 by the ABTS method and from 0.90 to 0.75 by the DPPH method. Conclusion. FM pretreatment increased the ability to restore the freeze-dried samples. The mango samples preserved the high content of phenols and carotenoids. The antioxidant capacity of the FM-treated samples proved to be slightly lower than in the control samples. In general, pretreatment with filamentous microplasma and thermoelectric emission had a positive effect on the quality of freeze-dried mango, reduced the processing time, and improved the rehydration characteristics of the final product.
3D Based Visualization Tool to Analyze the Influential Topics via Hashtags on Instagram Platform
Authors: Xinyi Guo , Cuiting Liu , Ruisi Wang , Mehmood Raja Majid
Published: December 2020

This paper intends to develop an interactive, comprehensive information visualization platform of Instagram hashtag analysis. Instagram hashtags has developed themselves into all different kinds of group or communities for users to share hobbies and find similar friends. In order to analyze topic influence and user interest trend from Instagram, which contains billions of end-users and has worldwide influence, hashtag analysis is necessary to gather such information and compare the proportion of people involving in each tags and rank them to visualize. The visualization is developed in 3D space and consists of time-varying data flow of tags, together with tag comparison analysis, as well as event researches. In the rest of the paper, we mainly discuss the design idea and the development process of the system. An example of the system design work will be shown in the discussion, which involves 4 popular hashtags discussed on Instagram and are shown on the system, displayed as an 3D histogram, together with another comparison histogram to compare different tags, as well as an event view in the back.
Value Chain Analysis of Large Cardamom in Taplejung District of Nepal
Authors: Bhusal Keshav , Kattel Rishi Ram , Dhakal Shiva Chandra
Published: December 2020

This study assessed the value chain analysis of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb) in Taplejung district, Nepal and explored the functional linkage and upgrading strategies among the key value chain actors. One hundred and sixty farmers were surveyed purposely along with 5 local and district level traders, 5 regional level traders and exporters and 5 enablers who were sampled using rapid market appraisal in March 2018. The study presents a comparative analysis among large holders (n=72) and smallholders (n=88) large cardamom farmers using SPSS and MS-Excel. The majority of farmers used suckers as propagating materials which was a major source of disease conduction. 62.5% of farmers adopted traditional dryers for curing, which reduced the quality of large cardamom whereas about 30% of them used improved dryers for curing that enhanced quality. The majority of farmers had not adopted value addition practices like tail cutting, grading and packaging which were carried out at trader level. Large cardamom prices were normally determined by the export market of India. The average land area of large cardamom per household was 21.56 ropani with 36.74 ropani for the large landholder farmers and 9.14 ropani for the smallholders. The key problems faced by farmers and traders were high price swing, lack of disease-free propagating materials, reliance on the Indian market, aged orchards, shrinking productivity, and minimal collaboration among the chain actors. Therefore, adoption of Good Management Practices (GMPs)- upgraded bhattis, transfer of tail cutting technology and storage management, along with value addition activities like grading (color and size), tail cutting and packaging need to be adopted with strong adherence to export quality. This study revealed that necessary action needs to be taken to maintain a high level of collaboration among the value chain actors thereby increasing the value chain efficiency of Nepalese large cardamom.
A Life-cycle Cost-benefit Analysis for Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems in Lightweight Steel-structured Industrial Buildings
Authors: Hu Xinyi , Hu Junyu , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2020

There is a widespread consensus that energy efficiency of buildings is an essential component of sustainable development  and several kinds of renewable energy technologies have been widely used to achieve this sustainable goal. As a rapidly developing country, China’s manufacturing industry still occupies a prominent position, with a large number of industrial buildings that are also a crucial part of urban planning. Compared with multi-story and high-rise commercial buildings, large industrial sheds have a much more usable roof area, where rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly used. However, due to the small structural margins of the lightweight steel-structured (LSS) industrial buildings and the large initial investment of the thin-film PV system, few case studies are available for this kind of industrial buildings. In this research, three representative cities in China, with varying levels of solar radiation availability, are selected as typical external design factors. Taking a typical LSS industrial building with an added thin-film rooftop PV system as an example, a life-cycle cost-benefit analysis is conducted from environmental and economic aspects. The results of the analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of the rooftop thin-film PV system as a means to increase the energy efficiency of the LSS industrial buildings.
Freshwater: Towards a Better Understanding of a Wicked Problem
Authors: Sanya Tom
Published: December 2020

Water begets intricate and profound linkages between multiple systems. Quantitative limits to freshwater availability for human needs, variabilities in the water cycle and environmental water requirements interact with water source pollution. The arising tensions are a great challenge of immense contemporary significance that can best be described as a wicked problem – a problem with multiple dimensions that presents unexpected consequences when engaged. Water challenges make vivid the compromises that must be made between the environment and development. These compromises surface in the conflict between ecocentric and technocentric discourse. Globally, there is evidence of numerous disciplinary and interdisciplinary water-related studies both in the past and ongoing. But there is no meta-mapping of various dimensions of such research to give a clear overview of what has been and what needs to be done. Consequences of this oversight may include unnecessary duplication of research, difficulty in articulating knowledge gaps, and inability to see beyond disciplinary boundaries. The author suggests an outline of how these difficulties can be engaged. This is done through a wide-ranging literature review to identify a range of issues of focus, which issues are then themed into imperatives for water research. These imperatives are subsequently systematised using four normative descriptors:  problem, drivers, and mitigation measures. In combination, these descriptors articulate a spectrum of the key issues around water research. The key issues are mapped onto various academic disciplines and societal partners to outline a schema for the positioning of water research. The proposed mapping can facilitate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary (IDTD) research by allowing researchers to benefit from relevant existing bodies of knowledge while also making explicit knowledge gaps and opportunities for collaboration. By locating academic fields within different worldviews, the outlined schema reveals common ground beyond disciplinary confines around which IDTD research can be instigated.
Recycling of TiO2-containing waste and utilization by photocatalytic degradation of a reactive dye solution
Authors: Bilici Zeynep , Bouchareb Raouf , Sacak Tuba , Yatmaz H. Cengiz , Dizge Nadir
Published: December 2020

Recently, the utilization of wastes, recovery of high value-added products from waste, and their use as raw materials in other industries with the logic of industrial symbiosis has become an important issue. In this study, removal efficiency of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) dye from aqueous solution was studied using TiO2 catalyst recycled from an industrial waste effluent. The recycling of TiO2 waste from a paints manufacturing industry was carried out by sintering the TiO2-containing waste. The catalyst usability of TiO2-containing powder was then investigated in the removal of RO16 dye by photocatalytic oxidation process. In photocatalytic oxidation studies, TiO2/UV and TiO2/UV/H2O2 processes were investigated, where the effect of annealing temperature, the effect of H2O2 concentration, and the adsorption and photocatalytic effects on RO16 dye removal were studied. The results showed that 100% RO16 removal was obtained for the 10 mg/L initial RO16 concentration using the TiO2 (1 g/L)/UV process. At high initial RO16 concentration (50 mg/L), 100% RO16 removal was achieved by adding 10 mM H2O2.
Ecoturismo Frívolo con Tortugas Marinas en México: Reflexiones desde la Sustentabilidad
Authors: Tiburcio Pintos Graciela , Cariño Olvera Martha Micheline
Published: December 2020

El ecoturismo es considerado una actividad que busca la conservación de las especies y los ecosistemas a la par que impulsa el desarrollo socio-económico de las comunidades donde se lleva a cabo. No obstante, en muchos casos, su práctica con tortugas marinas dista de tener esos impactos positivos, convirtiéndose en un problema más que enfrentan las especies objetivo de la actividad turística debido a la falta de vigilancia y a las malas prácticas en su manejo. Ambos problemas surgen a causa de proyectos que carecen de una adecuada planeación, que resta importancia tanto al conocimiento científico de las especies, como a las necesidades y condiciones reales que enfrentan las comunidades donde se realizan actividades ecoturísticas en torno al nacimiento, la anidación y la observación de tortugas en la playa y en el mar. El marco normativo que regula el desenvolvimiento de esos proyectos tampoco cuenta con instrumentos efectivos para su operatividad. Con base en la revisión de artículos científicos, de informes de gobierno, entrevistas y observación en campo, presentamos una crítica de las malas prácticas que caracterizan a diversos servicios que abusan de la creciente popularidad del ecoturismo con base en la observación de las tortugas marinas en México. Sin embargo, la capacitación de prestadores de servicios y la educación de turistas (ambos basados en el conocimiento científico), la planeación seria de las actividades ecoturísticas, el apego a la ley y un real compromiso con la conservación por parte de todos los actores involucrados, permitiría superar esas malas prácticas. El resultado conllevaría a experiencias ecoturísticas congruentes con los objetivos y los principios éticos que en teoría rigen al ecoturismo trascendiendo así del discurso a los hechos, esto beneficiaría tanto a las tortugas marinas como a las comunidades costeras que podrían encontrar en ellas un sustentable y valioso recurso no consuntivo.
Contributos para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável: A Experiência de Construção de um Modelo Setorial de Alinhamento de Estratégias
Authors: Pinto Leonor Gaspar , Ochôa Paula
Published: December 2020

Este artigo apresenta a experiência de construção de um modelo setorial de alinhamento de estratégias para contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentável em Portugal. A proposta metodológica para alinhamento de estratégias das bibliotecas portuguesas face à Agenda 2030 é enquadrada numa perspetiva de Prática Baseada em Evidências e apoiada em ferramentas orientadoras, pretendendo dar resposta à questão de investigação: Como é que as bibliotecas podem recolher evidências e avaliar o seu contributo para o desenvolvimento sustentável? O modelo conceptual desenvolve-se em quatro etapas - Pré-planeamento e aprendizagem; Planear em alinhamento; Implementar; e Usar as evidências para defesa e promoção das bibliotecas -, tendo sido testado por profissionais de Informação Documentação e por alunos/as do Mestrado em Gestão e Curadoria de Informação (NOVA FCSH e NOVA IMS, Portugal). Em ambos os casos, desenvolveram-se competências e práticas de aprendizagem para (re)utilizar/adaptar indicadores e dados estatísticos, através da recolha, processamento e alinhamento estratégico de evidências.
Inclusão no Ensino Superior Português: Análise do Enquadramento Regulamentar dos Alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais
Authors: Pereira Antunes Ana , Rodrigues Débora , Almeida Leandro da Silva , Estêvão Rodrigues Sandra
Published: December 2020

A resposta à diversidade e a uma formação de qualidade são questões às quais o ensino superior está atento e procura responder. Este estudo teve como objetivo principal analisar o reconhecimento e atendimento dos alunos com necessidades educativas especiais nas universidades e institutos politécnicos portugueses. Para a recolha de dados realizou-se uma busca online, tendo-se encontrado 26 instituições (13 das 15 universidades que integram o Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Portuguesas e 14 das 25 instituições que integram o Conselho Coordenador dos Institutos Superiores Politécnicos) com documentos (despachos/regulamentos) sobre a inclusão de alunos com necessidades educativas especiais. A análise documental realizada permitiu perceber que, para as instituições de ensino superior, o aluno com necessidades educativas especiais é percebido em função de um sentido lato de deficiência e de necessidades educativas especiais; que a forma de prestar apoio a estes alunos é diversificada; e que as medidas de apoio remetem, essencialmente, para assegurar a frequência das instalações (procurando melhorar as condições de acessibilidade e mobilidade), as condições de frequência das atividades curriculares e as formas de avaliação. Uma reflexão em relação à temática continua necessária, bem como a discussão sobre as melhores práticas inclusivas.
Reflexões e Práticas Formativas e de Pesquisa em Tempos de Cibercultura
Authors: Guazzelli Dalva Célia Henriques Rocha , Terçariol Adriana Aparecida de Lima
Published: December 2020

RESENHA DO LIVROTerçariol, Adriana Aparecida de Lima, Elisangela Aparecida Bulla Ikeshoji, Raquel Rosan Christino Gitahy, and Renata Aquino Ribeiro. 2018. Educação, Formação e Pesquisa Na Era Digital: Reflexões e Práticas Em Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem. São Paulo: Artesanato Educacional.
La Influencia de la Logistica Verde en el Mundo de los Negocios Internacionales
Authors: Ortegón Riveros Wilson Eduardo , Arango John Jairo Echeverri
Published: December 2020

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la importancia de la logística verde en el comercio exterior, basado en la internacionalización y comercialización de los productos, implicando en los últimos años un deterioro medioambiental. Las actuales tendencias empresariales y comerciales, por efecto de la globalización, han generado la necesidad de implementar herramientas y alternativas para poder llegar al mercado internacional, teniendo factores inmersos en los negocios internacionales como son las operaciones de exportación e importación permitiendo el intercambio comercial; sin importar los daños que causen al ecosistema, situación que compromete a toda la humanidad y que pocos toman conciencia de este tema, que hoy se convierte en una prioridad de las agendas internacionales de los países. Las estrategias de las empresas para incrementar su competitividad se inscriben en el eje empresa, gobierno, país y bloque económico, donde las decisiones que tomen los consumidores, suponen un impacto sobre el planeta, pudiendo determinar como la logística verde toma relevancia en el mundo actual, y como las problemáticas medioambientales pasan hacer un tema prioritario no solo para el país sino para los actores de la cadena logística.
ANNOTATED LIST AND NEW RECORDS OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER HALACARID MITES (HALACARIDAE, ACARI) FROM NORWAY
Authors: Bartsch Ilse
Published: December 2020

Records of halacarid species collected in the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone are summarized, and three new records are added. The list of halacarids includes 45 marine species in 15 genera and two species belonging to two freshwater genera. To each genus a short diagnosis is given, and to each species information about original descriptions, as well as recently published details about the morphology, geography and habitat is provided. The fauna of Norway, compared to that of other eastern North Atlantic coastlines, is poor. We can expect that in the course of further collecting activities, spanning from the tidal zone to deep-sea basins, the number of species will be distinctly more than doubled.
Speech acts found in the novel “Snowing in Bali”
Authors: Suardana I Putu Eka
Published: December 2020

The novel Snowing in Bali is an international bestseller novel telling the story of Bali’s hidden drug world. Some utterances in the novel contain kinds of speech acts. The text of the novel is analyzed to find out the kinds of speech acts. The research aims to analyze speech acts and their kinds. Speech acts is a subfield of pragmatics studying how words are used not only to present information but also to carry out actions. There are three kinds of speech acts, for instance, elocutionary acts, illocutionary acts, and perlocutionary acts. A locutionary act can be defined as performing an act of saying something, an illocutionary act is viewed as an act in saying something, and a perlocutionary act is an act by saying something. A large number of those are found in the novel. This research is aimed to find out and analyze the elocutionary acts, the illocutionary acts, and the perlocutionary acts. The theory used is of Austin (1962), considering that people do not only use the language to assert things but also to do things.
The Potency of UB Forest Bacteria as Chitinolytic Bacteria to Inhibit Anthracnose Disease on Cayenne Pepper
Authors: Karina Nava , Roekhan Ahmad , Diah Ayu Fitriana Cindy , Qurata Aini Luqman
Published: December 2020

Anthracnose disease is a major disease in cayenne pepper triggered by fungal pathogen Colletotrichum capsici which can cause yield losses of up to 90%. Control of disease generally utilizes synthetic fungicides, but it damages the environment and human health. Hence, alternative controls that are ecofriendly are required. One of the attempts is to make use of chitinolytic bacteria's potential. This study aimed to screen UB Forest chitinolytic bacteria and to determine their potential in suppressing anthracnose in cayenne pepper. Stages of research include a screening of 78 UB Forest bacteria as chitinolytic bacteria, selection of chitinolytic bacteria that are antagonistic against C. capsici, inhibition test of chitinase crude extracts against C. capsici growth, controlling anthracnose disease in cayenne using chitinolytic bacteria, and molecular identification. Based on the results of the selection, there were 76 isolates of UB Forest bacteria classified as chitinolytic bacteria, 74 bacteria antagonistic against C. capsici. Chitinase crude extracts significantly affected C. capsici growth inhibition compared to fungicide treatment. The application of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (UB 11) and Bacillus cereus (UB 12) can control anthracnose disease in cayenne pepper with the intensity of 41.67% and 38.89% respectively with the efficacy level of 58.33% and 61.11%.