bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Status of Research, Regulations, and Future Challenges for CRISPR Gene-Editing in Crop Improvement
Authors: Sharma Sadikshya , Lee Seonghee , Huo Heqiang
Published: July 2020

Recently, new plant-breeding technology such as CRISPR gene editing has provided the potential to substantially improve crop breeding in agriculture. Considerable efforts have been devoted to apply this gene-editing technology in modern agriculture to increase crop yields and improve the quality of food ingredients, especially by many of the major agronomic seed-producing companies. In this new 4-page article, we outline the recent research updates and regulations on gene editing in crop improvement. Written by Sadikshya Sharma, Heqiang Huo, and Seonghee Lee and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1334
"Blade Runner" mmagini e significati che si riflettono nell'emergenza Covid-19
Authors: Fionda Barbara
Published: July 2020

Le due pellicole "Blade Runner" del 1982 e del 2017 risultano essere particolarmente evocative sia sul piano del significato che dell'atmosfera in relazione all'attuale emergenza da Covid-19. Brevi riflessioni su assonanze e messaggi tratti dalle due opere cinematografiche.
Attraversare il virus. La devastazione di un macrosistema e la mia esperienza come soggetto collettivo
Authors: Barbetta Pietro
Published: July 2020

Nel saggio che segue condivido, a partire dalla mia esperienza personale, qualcosa che riguarda la comunità di persone che sono state affette dal Covid. Nella prima parte mostro la differenza tra la mia regione, governata per molti anni da persone che, per ridurre i costi e privatizzare il sistema sanitario, hanno cancellato tutti gli aspetti dell'approccio territoriale alla medicina, fino ad essere totalmente impreparati ad affrontare la diffusione del virus e un paese, la Germania, che non è perfetta, ma era pronta ad affrontare il virus in ragione delle ulteriori risorse offerte per affrontare l'evento imprevisto. Nella seconda parte condividerò la mia storia di paziente affetto dal virus: la sensazione di far parte di un soggetto collettivo, me stesso e la comunità a cui appartengo.
Training parents to adolescents' challenges: The CONNECT parent program
Authors: Barone Lavinia , Carone Nicola , Costantino Antonella , Genschow Jennifer , Merelli Sara , Milone Annamaria , Polidori Lisa , Ruglioni Laura , Moretti Marlene
Published: July 2020

Adolescents' challenges could be effectively addressed by treating their parents. Prior evaluations of CONNECT, an attachment-based program intervention for parents of adolescents at risk, indicated that improving parenting skills and the quality of parent-adolescent relationship may result in decrease of adolescents' behavioural problems. The present study is part of a longitudinal research involving three Italian centres (Pavia, Milan, Pisa) aimed at investigating whether helping parents reduce their reliance on coercive or unproductive parenting strategies and understand changes occurring during adolescence from an attachment-based perspective would reduce their adolescents' externalizing and internalizing symptoms. One-hundred and eighteen parents of adolescents (Mage = 15.26 years, SD = 1.49; 64% boys), randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 66) or to the wait-list control group (n = 52), reported on their perceptions of their adolescents' externalizing and internalizing symptoms (using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire-parent version; Goodman, 1997), as well as attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety (using the Adolescent Attachment Anxiety & Avoidance Inventory; Moretti and Obsuth, 2009) prior to treatment (t0), within a two-week period following the final treatment session (t1) and at a four months follow-up (t2). Parents attending the CONNECT program reported significant reductions in their adolescents' externalizing symptoms, and slightly significant reductions in their adolescents' internalizing symptoms by a reduction of anxiety and avoidance attachment strategies. The findings add evidence to the importance of investigating mechanisms of change underlying the effectiveness of CONNECT program, providing further indications on its application in therapeutic contexts.
La citta` della festa rivoluzionaria: l'utopia realizzata nella Parigi repubblicana di fine Settecento
Authors: Bacuzzi Marta
Published: July 2020

Le feste rivoluzionarie, una serie di celebrazioni che hanno segnato il corso dell'ultimo decennio del Settecento, traducono gli ideali della Rivoluzione francese in qualcosa di concreto, tangibile e accessibile a tutti, tanto da materializzare nella città di Parigi una vera e propria utopia. Questo contributo intende mettere in luce come la trasformazione fisica delle vie cittadine, nonostante abbia prodotto un allestimento temporaneo ed effimero, senza alcun effetto duraturo sulle condizioni di vita delle persone, si sia in realtà rivelata uno strumento indispensabile per la creazione di consenso e di conseguenza per la legittimazione del potere. Si intende dunque evidenziare il ruolo della costruzione ‘virtuale' dello spazio urbano nel plasmare l'immaginazione sociale, rivelando al contempo gli strumenti impiegati dall'élite intellettuale incaricata di progettare le cerimonie.
Architectural Heritage of the Avant-Garde era in Southern Russia
Authors: Tokarev Arthur
Published: July 2020

This research explores Southern Russian architecture from the mid-1920s to 1930s considering issues of continuity, tradition, and innovation. The scope of the research comprises both well-known architectural monuments commissioned to Soviet leading professionals as well as a group of little-known architectural structures. In the paper, it is concluded that despite the fact that this period is usually associated with the widespread Soviet Avant-Garde style of architecture, the influence of other stylistic movements, such as Traditionalism and Art Deco, was also very strong. The research specifically focuses on the problem of heritage preservation. The heritage protection status does not guarantee the preservation of a building. Paradoxically, the smaller a township and the poorer the local economy, the better the state of historical architectural objects.
Il disegno "poietico" di Mario Bellini. Design, architettura, paesaggio
Authors: Casonato Camilla , Muscogiuri Marco
Published: July 2020

Nel 2018 si inaugurava a Milano la mostra ‘Mario Bellini. Il disegno del Progetto'. I disegni, che ripercorrevano la fortunata carriera dell'architetto, divengono ora lo spunto per una duplice riflessione. Da un lato il disegno è indagato nelle sue molteplici nature e finalità: quale ausilio alla memoria, come veicolo per vedere, come strumento di comunicazione e soprattutto come luogo di elaborazione del pensiero progettuale. Dall'altro si avvia, proprio attraverso il filtro del disegno, una riflessione sul rapporto tra uomo e spazio, in riferimento alle molteplici scale a cui opera l'architetto, dall'oggetto all'architettura al paesaggio. Attraversando oltre quarant'anni di storia recente, la mostra testimoniava anche la profonda trasformazione delle tecniche e delle modalità del disegno professionale, stimolando una riflessione sul mutare dei rapporti tra disegno e progetto anche in relazione all'avvento del digitale.
Minimetrò in Perugia as leverage for urban regeneration
Authors: Fondacci Luca
Published: July 2020

In the 1970s, the fragile historical centre of the city of Perugia was a key area where the binomial of sustainable mobility and urban regeneration was developed and applied. At the turn of the xxi century, the low carbon automatic people-mover Minimetrò broadened that application from the city's historical centre to the outskirts, promoting the enhancement of several urban environments. This paper is the outcome of an investigation of original sources, field surveys and direct interviews, which addresses the Minimetrò as the backbone of a wide regeneration process which has had a considerable impact on the economic development of a peripheral area of the city which was previously devoid of any clear urban sense. The conclusion proposes some solutions to improve the nature of the Minimetrò as an experimental alternative means of transport.
Analisi dell'interferenza antropica nei Parchi Nazionali italiani
Authors: Zullo Francesco , Blasioli Luca
Published: July 2020

La questione delle aree protette rappresenta un tema attuale nel dibattito nazionale ed internazionale, sempre più attento alla conciliazione delle esigenze antropiche di sviluppo con la salvaguardia dei valori ambientali. Tali considerazioni sono più significative all'interno dei confini italiani, la cui peculiare conformazione geomorfologica e paesaggistica ha determinato in tempi storici lo sviluppo di gran parte degli insediamenti in contesti ad elevata naturalità. Il presente lavoro analizza le dinamiche demografiche, socio-economiche ed urbane che hanno interessato le aree protette a partire dal 1991, delineando possibili strategie di intervento e politiche di gestione volte a mitigare gli effetti delle trasformazioni antropiche e al miglioramento delle condizioni ambientali compatibilmente con i margini di recupero e conservazione emersi dalla classificazione tipologica.
Road Noise Levels in Urban Environment Compared to Specification Limits. The Case of the City of Larissa, Greece
Authors: Papadimitriou Emmanouil A. , Papageorgiou Grigorios P. , Alamanis Nikolaos , Diakosavva Theodosia-Niki
Published: July 2020

Greece, as well as other developed countries, is facing the growing problem of road traffic noise. It stands for a severe problem in the urban areas of the country, including the city of Larissa. The root cause is the huge increase in traffic volume and the lack of adequate urban infrastructure planning. Estimation of the level of road traffic noise is usually conducted using acoustic meters. It is widely accepted that most of the cities’ population is exposed to high noise levels due to controversial traffic capacity. Moreover, high noise levels are strongly related to phycological and neurological diseases. Thus, it is of utmost importance, the road noise levels to be lower than dictated by relevant specification limits. To develop better noise-environment policies, relative research should focus on the measurement of in-situ noise levels, so as appropriate for each case corrective measures to be taken. The present paper examines the noise levels of a center road of the 5th Greek city, in terms of population, compared to worldwide adopted noise specification limits. The clear aim stands for finding the percentage of road noise that exceeds commonly accepted threshold values, namely limit values of European Union and World Health Organization. The results of this research strongly indicate that measured noise values override upper limit values in a certain extent.
Determining the Shear Strength Properties of a Soil-geogrid Interface Using a Large-scale Direct Shear Test Apparatus
Authors: Stacho Jakub , Sulovska Monika , Slavik Ivan
Published: July 2020

The paper deals with the laboratory testing of coarse-grained soils that are reinforced using a geogrid. The shear strength properties were determined using a large-scale direct shear test apparatus. The tests were executed on original as well as on reinforced soil, when the geogrid was placed on a sliding surface, which permitted determining the shear strength properties of the soil-geogrid interface. The aim of the tests was to determine the interface shear strength coefficient α, which represents the ratio of the shear strength of the soil-geogrid interface to the unreinforced soil. The tests were executed on 3 samples of coarse-grained materials, i.e., poorly graded sand, poorly graded fine gravel and poorly graded medium gravel. Two types of geogrids were tested, i.e., a woven polyester geogrid and a stiff polypropylene geogrid. The results of the laboratory tests on the medium gravel showed that the reduction coefficient α reached higher values in the case of the stiff polypropylene geogrid. In the cases of the fine gravel and sand, the values of the interface coefficient α were similar to each other. The shear strength of the interface was reduced or was similar to the shear strength of unreinforced soil in a peak shear stress state, but significantly increased with horizontal deformations, especially for the fine gravel and sand. The largest value of the coefficient α was measured in the critical shear stress state. Based on the results of the testing, a correlation which allows for determining the optimal grain size distribution was obtained.
Análisis de las características geométricas del ancho de carril e infraestructura en las paradas de bus del transporte público urbano en la ciudad de Riobamba
Authors: Velasco Castelo Geoconda Marisela , Guerrero Godoy Alexandra Patricia , Aguilar Miranda Gustavo Javier
Published: July 2020

El siguiente artículo se enfoca en el análisis de las características geométricas del ancho del carril y de la infraestructura de paradas de bus del transporte público urbano de la ciudad de Riobamba, para lo cual se ha realizado un levantamiento in situ de la información tipo catastro, elaborando fichas donde se registró información como el tipo identificando su geometría y estado de la infraestructura de parada además el registro de la existencia del tipo de señalización horizontal y vertical.

La importancia de los paraderos de bus recae en la comodidad de los usuarios al movilizarse en el transporte público, donde los mismos están expuestos a una serie de inconvenientes que se agravan con la situación climatológica variante en nuestro medio. Existen 16 líneas de transporte público las mismas que están agrupadas en 10 grupos relacionando la ruta del recorrido que realizan las unidades de transporte, en la investigación se evidenció los problemas reales y constantes que tiene la ciudadanía cuando utilizan las paradas de transporte público para trasladarse de un punto origen a un destino. Los resultados obtenidos en base al análisis reflejan la existencia de señalización horizontal y vertical en las paradas, alrededor del 30% se cuenta con la infraestructura de parada adecuada, en el análisis geométrico verificando las medidas de la dimensión del ancho de carril 8 grupos cumplen con la normativa regular que permite la circulación adecuada de las unidades de transporte público.
Los activos intangibles y la ventaja competitiva sustentable en las Pymes ecuatorianas
Authors: Llerena Gómez Jadira Monserrath , Mayorga Díaz Mónica Patricia , López Jara Ana Alexandra , López Paredes María Alexandra
Published: July 2020

El rol desempeñado por las pequeñas y medianas empresas en el campo empresarial contemporáneo se ha convertido en trascendental en cualquier lugar del mundo, una vez que estas organizaciones en su gran mayoría, se constituyen con patrimonio familiar y contribuyen notablemente a la economía de un país, dentro de sus estructuras organizacionales se revela el nivel de importancia de la sustentabilidad organizacional, razón por la que dentro de esta investigación se identificó el desarrollo del direccionamiento estratégico empresarial en el desplazamiento del líder, así mismo actualmente la gestión financiera integral de los recursos intangibles se han transformado en beneficios económicos futuros; no obstante, existen un sin número de dificultades que complican en algunos casos su valoración oportuna, la identificación de los inconvenientes que existen para la ejecución del control por parte de las organizaciones referentes al tratamiento los activos intangibles. Por consiguiente, se consideró primordial el estudio documental minucioso sobre el comportamiento moderno de las aristas de investigación dentro de las unidades de análisis, por lo que se efectuó además un contraste de los reportes económicos a nivel mundial y nacional en donde se determine el efecto ocasionado en los activos intangibles en la pequeña y mediana empresa y lograr una tropicalización a la realidad empresarial ecuatoriana.
La capacitación como generador de valor empresarial
Authors: Santillán Marroquín Washington Edy , Mera Manotoa Héctor Patricio
Published: July 2020

Cada vez en las organizaciones la capacitación se ha convertido en una herramienta muy potente para mejorar el desempeño de los trabajadores. Además, nos permite sistematizar procesos que facilita la profesionalización del personal en la empresa. Aporta significativamente para retener al talento humano como parte de su salario emocional práctico.

El contar con una capacitación eficiente, también permite a la empresa innovar, desarrollar estrategias competitivas, corporativas y funcionales, apoyado en el uso de tecnologías de la información, con un sentido ético y de responsabilidad social.

 La capacitación debe visualizarse y aplicarse en las organizaciones como un derecho y una obligación entre empresa y colaboradores, los gestores humanos deberíamos fomentar estas "buenas prácticas" y crear leyes que así lo hagan.  La capacitación al ser una actividad planificada en donde intervienen todos los actores de la empresa y todos los procesos de talento humano para generar un diagnóstico aterrizado a la realidad de dichas empresas, sin duda, fortalece la estructura de la organización y fundamentalmente la formación, educación y desarrollo del talento humano que labora.

Finalmente, evidenciamos que la capacitación influye directamente al desarrollo de conocimientos, competencias, habilidades y destrezas, fortaleciendo la calidad integral de la organización.
Caracterización psicosocial en una muestra de mujeres víctimas de violencia de género en Colombia: un estudio piloto
Authors: Herrera Merchán Edna Johanna , Cañas Betancurt Dora Cristina , González Clemente Emily Carolina , Uribe Ochoa Cirly , Padilla Reyes Lauren Audrey
Published: July 2020

En esta investigación se estudia el perfil psicosocial de una muestra de mujeres víctimas de violencia de género convocadas por la Fundación Mujer y Futuro, con edades entre los 19 a 70 años. Para ello, se utilizó como instrumento una encuesta psicosocial, en la que se recolectó información sobre factores socioculturales y tipologías de violencia de género. El análisis sistematización de datos de tipo descriptivo, se hizo con el software estadístico con SPSS (versión 24). Como resultado se encontró que un 70% de las mujeres de la muestra cuentan con estudios primarios y/o secundarios, el 65% son amas de casa, el 70% no cuentan con remuneración económica, el 90% se ubican en los estratos socioeconómicos uno y dos, en cuanto al tipo de violencia que han recibido, el 80% de la mujeres encuestadas ha sufrido violencia desde el hogar núcleo, el 100% psicológica, el 80% física, el 70% económica y un 45% sexual, además a partir del contraste de los resultados con otras investigaciones, se concluye que la baja escolaridad, nula remuneración económica, el estrato socioeconómico y la violencia en el núcleo del hogar son posibles factores vulneradores para el desarrollo de violencias.
Sosyal Hizmette Kültürel Yetkinlik Eğitimi: İçeriğe Yönelik Bir Sistematik Derleme Çalışması
Authors: Akarçay Demet
Published: July 2020

Sosyal
hizmet eğitiminin temel noktasını oluşturan bireyin biricikliği, farklı
kültürlerle birlikte daha özgül ve değerli hale gelmektedir. Sosyal hizmetin
mikro, mezzo ve makro bileşenlerinin farklı değerlerle ve kültürel özelliklerle
nasıl çalışacağı ve uygulamalara nasıl yön vereceği, sosyal hizmet eğitiminin
değişen yüzünü göstermektedir. Her toplumun yaşadığı değişim ve sahip olduğu
organik yapı düşünüldüğünde, sosyal hizmet eğitiminin çağın gereklerini ve
sosyal sorunları yakalayarak değişime yanıt verecek bir modele evrilmesi
kaçınılmaz gibi görünmektedir. Bu anlamda, ülkemizde de son yıllarda yaşanan
göç ve artan öğrenci eğitim hareketliliklerinin toplumsal yansımaları
düşünülerek çokkültürü yapıyı anlama ve kültürel yetkinlik açısından yeterli
ölçüm ve değerlendirmelerin yapılabildiği ders içeriklerine ihtiyaç
bulunmaktadır.

Alan
yazında sosyal hizmet öğrencileriyle yapılan kültürel yetkinlik ve çokkültürlü
yapının değerlendirildiği pek çok farklı çalışmanın sosyal hizmet eğitiminde
teori, uygulama ve süpervizyon aşamalarına önemli katkıları olduğu
görülmektedir. Bu çalışma, farklı dönemlerde, ülkelerde, eğitim düzeylerinde
yapılan ve kültürel yetkinliği bir ders içeriği niteliğinde öğrencilerle
etkileşimde bulunarak değerlendirilen çalışmaları sosyal hizmet eğitim
bileşenleri özelinde bir araya getirmek amacıyla sistematik derleme olarak
tasarlanmıştır. Taylor and Francis Online, SAGE Journals, Cochrane Library,
PubMed, Science Direct, TR Dizin veri tabanları aracılığıyla çokkültürlü sosyal
hizmet dersi, uluslararası sosyal hizmet dersi, uluslararası sosyal hizmet
eğitimi, sosyal hizmette kültürel yetkinlik eğitimi, kültürlerarası sosyal
hizmet eğitimi anahtar kelimelerinin farklı versiyonları İngilizce ve Türkçe
karşılıklarıyla taranmıştır. Başlık ve anahtar kelimeleri uygun olan
çalışmaların özetleri ve yöntem bölümleri incelendikten sonra dahil edilme
kriterlerini taşıyan 20 makale ile sistematik derlemenin prosedürleri yerine
getirilmiştir. Yapılan çalışmada, kültürel farkındalık, farklı kültürlere ait
bilgi donanımı, öğrencilerin farklılıkları yükledikleri anlam ve ihtiyaçların
karşılanması ve sorunların giderilmesi noktasında sosyal hizmetin yüklendiği
çatışma çözümü, karar verme sorumluluğu ve sosyal adaletin sağlanması gibi
konuların öne çıktığı görülmüştür. Sonuç olarak, alan yazına kazandırılan
önceki çalışmaların ışığında, sosyal hizmet eğitiminde kültürel yetkinliğin
tartışıldığı bir ders çerçevesi öneri olarak sunulmaya çalışılmaktadır.
SOSYAL HİZMET MESLEKİ UYGULAMALARINDA MÜRACAATÇILARA KARŞI ETİK SORUMLULUKLAR VE ETİK KARAR VERME SÜRECİ
Authors: Zubaroğlu Yanardağ Melek
Published: July 2020

Meslek etiği kapsamında oluşturulan kurallar, meslekler için güvence sağlayan ilke ve sorumluluklar içerir. Sosyal hizmet mesleği de belli başlı etik ilke ve sorumluluklara sahiptir. Sosyal hizmet etik ilke ve prensipleriyle ilgili ilk taslak çalışmaların girişim bazında 1920’lerde başladığı bilinmektedir. Sosyal hizmet etik ilke ve prensipleriyle ilgili en güncel belge olan Ulusal Sosyal Hizmet Uzmanları Derneği (NASW) Etik Kurallar Rehberi 2017 yılındaki revizyonu ile sosyal hizmet uzmanlarına rehber olmaktadır. Belgede yenilikçi olarak, hizmetin teknolojik veya elektronik düzlemde verilmesiyle ilgili bazı maddelerde ek açıklamalarda bulunulmuştur. Bu çalışmada Rehber’de açıklanan etik sorumluluklardan yalnızca müracaatçılara ilişkin olanlar ele alınmıştır. 17 başlık altında incelenen bu sorumluluklarla ilgili bazı örnekler sunulmaya çalışılmıştır. Ayrıca sosyal hizmet mesleğinde etik karar verme sürecinin nasıl olabileceği konusunda bir inceleme sunulmuştur. Bu çalışmadaki amaç hem güncel gelişmeler ışığında müracaatçılarla ilgili etik sorumlulukları ele almak hem de tamamlayıcı bir konu olarak etik karar verme sürecine yer vermektir.
Effects of habitat on reef fishes biodiversity and composition in rocky reefs
Authors: Zeng X , Tanaka KR , Mazur M , Wang K , Chen Y , Zhang S
Published: July 2020

Reef fish are highly valuable to human society—socially, nutritionally and economically. However, they are vulnerable to both overfishing and habitat degradation. Understanding the community structure and habitat associations of reef fish is important for their management and conservation. Using a gillnet survey conducted in a subtropical rocky reef area of Ma’an Archipelago, China, we developed habitat models linking reef fish diversity and community composition with habitat factors. The parsimonious generalized additive model results showed that higher reef fish diversity was associated with southern shallower water, temperature of 25°C, lower levels of dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a, and rock bottom type. The multivariate generalized linear model identified that month, depth, bottom type, and location significantly influenced the local reef fish; these habitat variables explained 18% of the variation in reef fish community composition. However, the lack of strong patterns and correlations between species derived from the joint species distribution model revealed that reefs within our study area are difficult to classify based on habitat-driven patterns in their associated reef fish assemblages. These findings enhance our understanding of the habitat effects on reef fish diversity and community composition and have relevance for the management of reef fish, including habitat zonation and deployment of artificial reefs.
Habitat fragmentation causes collapse of kelp recruitment
Authors: Layton C , Cameron MJ , Tatsumi M , Shelamoff V , Wright JT , Johnson CR
Published: July 2020

Kelp forests in many regions are experiencing disturbance from anthropogenic sources such as ocean warming, pollution, and overgrazing. Unlike natural disturbances such as storms, anthropogenic disturbances often manifest as press perturbations that cause persistent alterations to the environment. One consequence is that some kelp forests are becoming increasingly sparse and fragmented. We manipulated patch size of the kelp Ecklonia radiata over 24 mo to simulate persistent habitat fragmentation and assessed how this influenced the demography of macro- and microscopic juvenile kelp within the patches. At the beginning of the experiment, patch formation resulted in short-term increases in E. radiata recruitment in patches <1 m2. However, recruitment collapsed in those same patches over the extended period, with no recruits observed after 15 mo. Experimental transplants of microscopic and macroscopic juvenile sporophytes into the patches failed to identify the life stage impacted by the reductions in patch size, indicating that the effects may be subtle and require extended periods to manifest, and/or that another life stage is responsible. Abiotic measurements within the patches indicated that kelp were less able to engineer the sub-canopy environment in smaller patches. In particular, reduced shading of the sub-canopy in smaller patches was associated with proliferation of sediments and turf algae, which potentially contributed to the collapse of recruitment. We demonstrate the consequences of short- and longer-term degradation of E. radiata habitats and conclude that habitat fragmentation can lead to severe disruptions to kelp demography.
Expertise-Related Differences in Wrist Muscle Co-contraction in Drummers
Authors: Beveridge Scott , Herff Steffen A. , Buck Bryony , Madden Gerard Breaden , Jabusch Hans-Christian
Published: July 2020

Background and Aim: Drumming requires excellent motor control and temporal coordination. Deploying specific muscle activation patterns may help achieve these requirements. Muscle activation patterns that involve reciprocal contraction of antagonist muscles are particularly favorable as they enable a high level of muscular economy while maintaining performance. In contrast, simultaneous contraction of antagonist muscles is an inefficient muscle activation pattern. In drumming, co-contraction can lead to increased movement variability and greater fatigue over time. In this study we examine how muscle activation patterns develop with increased drumming expertise.

Methods: Eleven expert drummers (ED) and eleven amateur drummers (AD) were recorded using 3D motion capture while performing five different uni-manual and bi-manual repetitive drumming tasks across different tempi. Electromyography was used to record muscle activation of wrist flexor and extensor muscles.

Results: Findings indicate that reduced co-contraction resulted in more even drumming performance. Co-contraction also increased in extremely slow and very high tempi. Furthermore, regardless of task or tempo, muscle co-contraction was decreased in participants with higher levels of expertise. In addition to anti-phasic activity of wrist flexor and extensor muscles, expert drummers exhibited a flexor dominance, suggesting more efficient usage of rebound.

Conclusion: Taken together, we found that higher levels of drumming expertise go hand in hand with specific muscle activation patterns that can be linked to more precise and efficient drumming performance.
A Predictive Analysis on Emerging Technology Utilization in Industrialized Construction in the United States and China
Authors: Qi Bing , Qian Shuyu , Costin Aaron
Published: July 2020

Considering the increasing use of emerging technologies in industrialized construction in recent years, the primary objective of this article is to develop and validate predictive models to predict the emerging technology utilization level of industrialized construction industry practitioners. Our preliminary research results indicate that the company background and personal career profiles can significantly affect practitioners’ technology utilization level. Thus, our prediction model is based on four variables: company size, company type, working experience, and working position. The United States and China are selected as the case studies to validate the prediction model. First, a well-designed questionnaire survey is distributed to the industrialized construction industry practitioners from the two countries, which leads to 81 and 99 valid responses separately. Then, ordinal logistic regression is used to develop a set of models to predict the practitioners’ utilization level of the four main technology types. Finally, the external test dataset consisting of 16 cases indicates the prediction models have a high accuracy. The results also reflect some differences of the technology utilization status in the industrialized construction industry between the United States and China. The major contribution of this research is offering an efficient and accurate method to predict practitioners’ technology utilization level in industrialized construction. Significantly, the models are believed to have a wide application in promoting the emerging technologies in the actual industrialized construction.
Static Aeroelastic Beam Model Development for Folding Winglet Design
Authors: Kidane Bereket Sitotaw , Troiani Enrico
Published: July 2020

Wing shape adaptability during flight is the next step towards the greening of aviation. The shape of the wing is typically designed for one cruise point or a weighted average of several cruise points. However, a wing is subjected to a variety of flight conditions, which results in the aircraft flying sub-optimally during a portion of the flight. Shape adaptability can be achieved by tuning the shape of the winglet during flight. The design challenge is to combine a winglet structure that is able to allow the required adaptable shape while preserving the structural integrity to carry the aerodynamic loads. The shape changing actuators must work against the structural strains and the aerodynamic loads. Analyzing the full model in the preliminary design phase is computationally expensive; therefore, it is necessary to develop a model. The goal of this paper is to derive an aeroelastic model for a wing and winglet in order to reduce the computational cost and complexity of the system in designing a folding winglet. In this paper, the static aeroelastic analysis is performed for a regional aircraft wing at sea level and service ceiling conditions with three degree and eight degree angle of attack. MSC Nastran Aeroelastic tool is used to develop a Finite Element Model (FEM), i.e., beam model and the aerodynamic loads are calculated based on a doublet lattice panel method (DLM).
Novel Pesticide Risk Indicators for Aquatic Organisms and Earthworms
Authors: Astaykina Angelika , Streletskii Rostislav , Maslov Mikhail , Kazantseva Svetlana , Karavanova Elizabeth , Gorbatov Victor
Published: July 2020

There are many approaches of pesticide risk assessment. Despite their variation in difficulty and information complexity, all of them are intended to predict the actual pesticide risk as accurately as possible, i.e., to predict the behavior and hazard of a pesticide in the environment with high precision. The aim of this study was to develop a risk indicator of pesticide’s negative impact on soil and aquatic organisms. The developed pesticide risk indicator constitutes the sum of points of acute toxicity exposure ratio, long-term toxicity exposure ratio, and the bioconcentration factor. To develop the indicator, mathematical models were used; the input data included the soil and climate conditions of a specific region. Combining the data of pesticide toxicity in the environment allowed for a more accurate risk assessment in terms of using plant protection products. The toxicity and behavior in soil and water of 200 widespread pesticides were studied. It could be concluded that a mathematical model, PEARL 4.4.4, calibrated for region-specific soil-climate conditions, provides a relevant description of the natural translocation and decomposition of pesticides in soils. In addition, the output data of this model can be applied to calculate the risk indicators. The combination of these parameters with pesticide toxicity for non-target groups of organisms allows the risk indicator to be a universal tool for predicting the negative impact of pesticides on the environment at the regional level.
Antifungal Activity against Fusarium culmorum of Stevioside, Silybum marianum Seed Extracts, and Their Conjugate Complexes
Authors: Buzón-Durán Laura , Martín-Gil Jesús , Ramos-Sánchez María del Carmen , Pérez-Lebeña Eduardo , Marcos-Robles José Luis , Fombellida-Villafruela Ángel , Martín-Ramos Pablo
Published: July 2020

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease that poses a major challenge in cereal production that has important food and feed safety implications due to trichothecene contamination. In this study, the effect of stevioside—a glycoside found in the leaves of candyleaf (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)—was evaluated in vitro against Fusarium culmorum (W.G. Smith) Sacc., alone and in combination (in a 1:1 molar ratio) with polyphenols obtained from milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn). Different concentrations, ranging from 32 to 512 µg·mL−1, were assayed, finding EC50 and EC90 inhibitory concentrations of 156 and 221 µg·mL−1, respectively, for the treatment based only on stevioside, and EC50 and EC90 values of 123 and 160 µg·mL−1, respectively, for the treatment based on the stevioside–polyphenol conjugate complexes. Colony formation inhibition results were consistent, reaching full inhibition at 256 µg·mL−1. Given that synergistic behavior was observed for this latter formulation (SF = 1.43, according to Wadley’s method), it was further assessed for grain protection at storage, mostly directed against mycotoxin contamination caused by the aforementioned phytopathogen, confirming that it could inhibit fungal growth and avoid trichothecene contamination. Moreover, seed tests showed that the treatment did not affect the percentage of germination, and it resulted in a lower incidence of root rot caused by the pathogen in Kamut and winter wheat seedlings. Hence, the application of these stevioside–S. marianum seed extract conjugate complexes may be put forward as a promising and environmentally friendly treatment for the protection of cereal crops and stored grain against FHB.
Design and Characterization of Bioactive Bilayer Films: Release Kinetics of Isopropyl Palmitate
Authors: Luís Ângelo , Gallardo Eugenia , Ramos Ana , Domingues Fernanda
Published: July 2020

Active packaging incorporating antioxidants and antimicrobials is creating a niche in the market and becoming increasingly important. The main goal of this work was the design of bioactive bilayer films (zein/pullulan) incorporating licorice essential oil. The bilayer films were fully characterized in terms of their chemical, physical, barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, the release kinetics of isopropyl palmitate, the major compound of the licorice essential oil, was evaluated by HPLC-DAD (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode-array detector). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs of cross-sections of the bilayer films clearly show the two layers of the films. Besides presenting the capacity to scavenge free radicals and to inhibit the lipid peroxidation, the developed bilayer films were also able to inhibit the growth of known foodborne pathogens (Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes). The release kinetics profile of isopropyl palmitate from bilayer films incorporating licorice essential oil demonstrated that in 50% ethanol at room temperature, the release was more effective, suggesting that the bilayer films will be more efficient if applied to package semi-fatty food.
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Nuts Counteract Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in an Acute Experimental Model of Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema
Authors: Cordaro Marika , Siracusa Rosalba , Fusco Roberta , D’Amico Ramona , Peritore Alessio Filippo , Gugliandolo Enrico , Genovese Tiziana , Scuto Maria , Crupi Rosalia , Mandalari Giuseppina , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Di Paola Rosanna , Impellizzeri Daniela
Published: July 2020

Background: Anacardium occidentale L. is a medicinal plant with powerful anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Acute inflammatory events cause tissue alterations, decrease of anti-oxidative endogenous enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione, neutrophils infiltration, increase in the activities of myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, and pro-inflammatory release. Methods: Paw edema was induced by subplantar injection of carrageenan into the right hind paw in rats, but 30 min before a group of animals were orally treated with 100 mg/kg of cashew nuts to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative response. Results: In the present work, we found that (1) cashew nuts reduced the development of carrageenan-induced paw edema limiting the formation of edema and pain; (2) cashew nuts ameliorated the diminutions of the anti-oxidative enzymes caused by carrageenan injection; (3) cashew nuts decreased myeloperoxidase malondialdehyde activity induced by carrageenan; and (4) cashew nuts acted by blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines response and nitrate/nitrite formation stimulated by carrageenan injection. Conclusions: The mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects exerted by cashew nuts were relevant to oxygen free radical scavenging, anti-lipid peroxidation, and inhibition of the formation of inflammatory cytokines.
Neuroprotective Effect of HIF Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibition in an In Vitro Hypoxia Model
Authors: Savyuk Maria , Krivonosov Mikhail , Mishchenko Tatiana , Gazaryan Irina , Ivanchenko Mikhail , Khristichenko Anna , Poloznikov Andrey , Hushpulian Dmitry , Nikulin Sergey , Tonevitsky Evgeny , Abuzarova Guzal , Mitroshina Elena , Vedunova Maria
Published: July 2020

A novel potent analog of the branched tail oxyquinoline group of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors, neuradapt, has been studied in two treatment regimes in an in vitro hypoxia model on murine primary hippocampal cultures. Neuradapt activates the expression of HIF1 and HIF2 target genes and shows no toxicity up to 20 μM, which is more than an order of magnitude higher than its biologically active concentration. Cell viability, functional activity, and network connectivity between the elements of neuronal networks have been studied using a pairwise correlation analysis of the intracellular calcium fluctuations in the individual cells. An immediate treatment with 1 μM and 15 μM neuradapt right at the onset of hypoxia not only protects from the death, but also maintains the spontaneous calcium activity in nervous cells at the level of the intact cultures. A similar neuroprotective effect in the post-treatment scenario is observed for 15 μM, but not for 1 μM neuradapt. Network connectivity is better preserved with immediate treatment using 1 μM neuradapt than with 15 μM, which is still beneficial. Post-treatment with neuradapt did not restore the network connectivity despite the observation that neuradapt significantly increased cell viability at 1 μM and functional activity at 15 μM. The preservation of cell viability and functional activity makes neuradapt promising for further studies in a post-treatment scenario, since it can be combined with other drugs and treatments restoring the network connectivity of functionally competent cells.
Antioxidant Therapies and Oxidative Stress in Friedreich’s Ataxia: The Right Path or Just a Diversion?
Authors: Rodríguez Laura R. , Lapeña Tamara , Calap-Quintana Pablo , Moltó María Dolores , Gonzalez-Cabo Pilar , Navarro Langa Juan Antonio
Published: July 2020

Friedreich’s ataxia is the commonest autosomal recessive ataxia among population of European descent. Despite the huge advances performed in the last decades, a cure still remains elusive. One of the most studied hallmarks of the disease is the increased production of oxidative stress markers in patients and models. This feature has been the motivation to develop treatments that aim to counteract such boost of free radicals and to enhance the production of antioxidant defenses. In this work, we present and critically review those “antioxidant” drugs that went beyond the disease’s models and were approved for its application in clinical trials. The evaluation of these trials highlights some crucial aspects of the FRDA research. On the one hand, the analysis contributes to elucidate whether oxidative stress plays a central role or whether it is only an epiphenomenon. On the other hand, it comments on some limitations in the current trials that complicate the analysis and interpretation of their outcome. We also include some suggestions that will be interesting to implement in future studies and clinical trials.
Overview of the Cerebellar Function in Anticipatory Postural Adjustments and of the Compensatory Mechanisms Developing in Neural Dysfunctions
Authors: Marchese Silvia Maria , Farinelli Veronica , Bolzoni Francesco , Esposti Roberto , Cavallari Paolo
Published: July 2020

This review aims to highlight the important contribution of the cerebellum in the Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (APAs). These are unconscious muscular activities, accompanying every voluntary movement, which are crucial for optimizing motor performance by contrasting any destabilization of the whole body and of each single segment. Moreover, APAs are deeply involved in initiating the displacement of the center of mass in whole-body reaching movements or when starting gait. Here we present literature that illustrates how the peculiar abilities of the cerebellum i) to predict, and contrast in advance, the upcoming mechanical events; ii) to adapt motor outputs to the mechanical context, and iii) to control the temporal relationship between task-relevant events, are all exploited in the APA control. Moreover, recent papers are discussed which underline the key role of cerebellum ontogenesis in the correct maturation of APAs. Finally, on the basis of a survey of animal and human studies about cortical and subcortical compensatory processes that follow brain lesions, we propose a candidate neural network that could compensate for cerebellar deficits and suggest how to verify such a hypothesis.
Probabilistic Resilience Analysis of the Icelandic Power System under Extreme Weather
Authors: Karangelos Efthymios , Perkin Samuel , Wehenkel Louis
Published: July 2020

This paper presents a probabilistic methodology for assessing power system resilience, motivated by the extreme weather storm experienced in Iceland in December 2019. The methodology is built on the basis of models and data available to the Icelandic transmission system operator in anticipation of the said storm. We study resilience in terms of the ability of the system to contain further service disruption, while potentially operating with reduced component availability due to the storm impact. To do so, we develop a Monte Carlo assessment framework combining weather-dependent component failure probabilities, enumerated through historical failure rate data and forecasted wind-speed data, with a bi-level attacker-defender optimization model for vulnerability identification. Our findings suggest that the ability of the Icelandic power system to contain service disruption moderately reduces with the storm-induced potential reduction of its available components. In other words, and as also validated in practice, the system is indeed resilient.
A User-Friendly Tool to Characterize the Moisture Transfer in Porous Building Materials: FLoW1D
Authors: Cabrera Virginia , López-Vizcaíno Rubén , Yustres Ángel , Ruiz Miguel Ángel , Torrero Enrique , Navarro Vicente
Published: July 2020

This paper presents a user-friendly tool—FLoW1D (One-Dimensional Water Flow)—for the estimation of parameters that characterize the unsaturated moisture transfer in porous building materials. FLoW1D has been developed in Visual Basic for Applications and implemented as a function of the well-known Microsoft Excel© spreadsheet application. The aim of our work is to provide a simple and useful tool to improve the analysis and interpretation of conventional tests for the characterization of the hygric behavior of porous building materials. FLoW1D embraces the conceptual model described in EN 15026 for moisture transfer in building elements, and its implementation has been verified and validated correctly. In order to show the scope of the code, an example of an application has been presented. The hygric characterization of the limestone that is mostly employed in the Cathedral of Santa Maria and San Julian in Cuenca (Spain) was conducted based on an analysis of the conventional water absorption by capillarity tests (EN 15801).
Influence of Surface Reflection (Albedo) in Simulating the Sun Drying of Paddy Rice
Authors: Salvatierra-Rojas Ana , Torres-Toledo Victor , Müller Joachim
Published: July 2020

The sun drying of agricultural products is a complicated process involving heat transfer, mass transfer, and variable weather conditions. Surface reflection (albedo), a crop’s radiative property, plays an essential role in energy balance, and understanding its contribution can improve the thermal analysis. In this study, field experiments were conducted in the Philippines to explore the influence of surface albedo on the sun drying of paddy rice. First, we implemented energy and mass balance equations in a transient model with the surroundings using a graphical programming language in Matlab/Simulink®. Second, we identified the influence of albedo on the sun drying model by using a sensitivity analysis. Third, we investigated the relationship of paddy rice albedo and the solar zenith angle. Lastly, we integrated the albedo function into the sun drying model. The simulation outputs were validated with field experiments. A better estimation of the measured exit temperature and instantaneous mass were obtained when a variable albedo was applied. This study makes clear that introducing a variable albedo has a positive impact on model improvement. This information is important for application in solar drying technologies, so that the drying process can be better assessed.
Microstructural Changes Influencing the Magnetoresistive Behavior of Bulk Nanocrystalline Materials
Authors: Wurster Stefan , Stückler Martin , Weissitsch Lukas , Müller Timo , Bachmaier Andrea
Published: July 2020

Bulk nanocrystalline materials of small and medium ferromagnetic content were produced using severe plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion at room temperature. Giant magnetoresistive behavior was found for as-deformed materials, which was further improved by adjusting the microstructure with thermal treatments. The adequate range of annealing temperatures was assessed with in-situ synchrotron diffraction measurements. Thermally treated Cu–Co materials show larger giant magnetoresistance after annealing for 1 h at 300 °C, while for Cu-Fe this annealing temperature is too high and decreases the magnetoresistive properties. The improvement of magnetoresistivity by thermal treatments is discussed with respect to the microstructural evolution as observed by electron microscopy and ex-situ synchrotron diffraction measurements.