bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Verbascoside-Rich Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai Leaf Extracts Prevent LPS-Induced Preterm Birth Through Inhibiting the Expression of Proinflammatory Cytokines from Macrophages and the Cell Death of Trophoblasts Induced by TNF-α
Authors: Kim Ho Won , Yu A-Reum , Kang Minji , Sung Nak-Yun , Lee Byung Soo , Park Sang-Yun , Han In-Jun , Kim Dong-Sub , Oh Sang-Muk , Lee Young Ik , Won Gunho , Lee Sung Ki , Kim Jong-Seok
Published: October 2020

Background: Preterm birth is a known leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The underlying causes of pregnancy-associated complications are numerous, but infection and inflammation are the essential high-risk factors. However, there are no safe and effective preventive drugs that can be applied to pregnant women. Objective: The objectives of the study were to investigate a natural product, Abeliophyllum distichum leaf (ADL) extract, to examine the possibility of preventing preterm birth caused by inflammation. Methods: We used a mouse preterm birth model by intraperitoneally injecting lipopolysaccharides (LPS). ELISA, Western blot, real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining analyses were performed to confirm the anti-inflammatory efficacy and related mechanisms of the ADL extracts. Cytotoxicity and cell death were measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) analysis and flow cytometer. Results: A daily administration of ADL extract significantly reduced preterm birth, fetal loss, and fetal growth restriction after an intraperitoneal injection of LPS in mice. The ADL extract prevented the LPS-induced expression of TNF-α in maternal serum and amniotic fluid and attenuated the LPS-induced upregulation of placental proinflammatory genes, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40, and TNF-α and the chemokine gene CXCL-1, CCL-2, CCL3, and CCL-4. LPS-treated THP-1 cell-conditioned medium accelerated trophoblast cell death, and TNF-α played an essential role in this effect. The ADL extract reduced LPS-treated THP-1 cell-conditioned medium-induced trophoblast cell death by inhibiting MAPKs and the NF-κB pathway in macrophages. ADL extract prevented exogenous TNF-α-induced increased trophoblast cell death and decreased cell viability. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that the inhibition of LPS-induced inflammation by ADL extract can prevent preterm birth, fetal loss, and fetal growth restriction.
Stretchable Strain Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring Based on an Intertwined-Coil Configuration
Authors: Pan Wei , Xia Wei , Jiang Feng-Shuo , Wang Xiao-Xiong , Zhang Zhi-Guang , Li Xia-Gui , Li Peng , Jiang Yong-Chao , Long Yun-Ze , Yu Gui-Feng
Published: October 2020

Wearable electronics, such as sensors, actuators, and supercapacitors, have attracted broad interest owing to their promising applications. Nevertheless, practical problems involving their sensitivity and stretchability remain as challenges. In this work, efforts were devoted to fabricating a highly stretchable and sensitive strain sensor based on dip-coating of graphene onto an electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibrous membrane, followed by spinning of the TPU/graphene nanomembrane into an intertwined-coil configuration. Owing to the intertwined-coil configuration and the synergy of the two structures (nanoscale fiber gap and microscale twisting of the fiber gap), the conductive strain sensor showed a stretchability of 1100%. The self-inter-locking of the sensor prevents the coils from uncoiling. Thanks to the intertwined-coil configuration, most of the fibers were wrapped into the coils in the configuration, thus avoiding the falling off of graphene. This special configuration also endowed our strain sensor with an ability of recovery under a strain of 400%, which is higher than the stretching limit of knees and elbows in human motion. The strain sensor detected not only subtle movements (such as perceiving a pulse and identifying spoken words), but also large movements (such as recognizing the motion of fingers, wrists, knees, etc.), showing promising application potential to perform as flexible strain sensors.
Design of an on-Chip Room Temperature Group-IV Quantum Photonic Chem/Bio Interferometric Sensor Based on Parity Detection
Authors: De Leonardis Francesco , Soref Richard A. , Passaro Vittorio M. N.
Published: October 2020

We propose and analyze three Si-based room-temperature strip-guided “manufacturable” integrated quantum photonic chem/bio sensor chips operating at wavelengths of 1550 nm, 1330 nm, and 640 nm, respectively. We propose design rules that will achieve super-sensitivity (above the classical limit) by means of mixing between states of coherent light and single-mode squeezed-light. The silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), and silicon nitride-on-SiO2-on Si (SiN) platforms have been investigated. Each chip is comprised of photonic building blocks: a race-track resonator, a pump filter, an integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometric chem/bio sensor, and a photonic circuit to perform parity measurements, where our homodyne measurement circuit avoids the use of single-photon-counting detectors and utilizes instead conventional photodetectors. A combination of super-sensitivity with super-resolution is predicted for all three platforms to be used for chem/bio sensing applications.
Associations of Plasma Fatty Acid Patterns during Pregnancy with Respiratory and Allergy Outcomes at School Age
Authors: Mensink-Bout Sara M. , Voortman Trudy , Dervishaj Marsela , Reiss Irwin K. M. , De Jongste Johan C. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Duijts Liesbeth
Published: October 2020

Fatty acids might play a role in asthma and allergy development as they can modulate immune responses. We examined among 4260 mother-child pairs participating in a population-based cohort the associations of maternal plasma fatty acid patterns during pregnancy with a child’s respiratory and allergy outcomes at school-age. In mid-pregnancy, 22 individual fatty acids were measured from maternal blood. Three patterns were previously identified by principal component analysis: A ‘high n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)’, a ‘monounsaturated and saturated fatty acid’, and a ‘high n-3 PUFA’ pattern. At the age of 10 years, a child’s lung function was assessed by spirometry, current asthma and physician-diagnosed inhalant allergy by questionnaire, and inhalant allergic sensitization by skin prick tests. A higher ‘high n-6 PUFA’ pattern was associated with a higher forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity and forced expiratory flow after exhaling 75% of forced vital capacity (Z-score difference (95% CI) 0.04 (0, 0.07) and 0.04 (0.01, 0.07), respectively, per SD increase in the fatty acid pattern). We observed no associations of maternal fatty acid patterns with a child’s asthma or allergy outcomes. Our results showed limited associations of maternal patterns of high n-6 PUFA concentrations in pregnancy with a better lung function in school-aged children.
Seasonal Dynamics of Leaf Stoichiometry of Phragmites australis: A Case Study From Yangguan Wetland, Dunhuang, China
Authors: Liu Dong , Zhang Jian , Biswas Asim , Cao Jianjun , Xie Huanjie , Qi Xuanxuan
Published: October 2020

Leaf stoichiometry can enhance our understanding of leaf elements’ (C, N and P) concentrations and their corresponding ratios in an ecosystem with seasonal environment changes. This study quantified the seasonal dynamics of leaf stoichiometry of P. australis from Yangguan wetland, Dunhuang, China as a case study example. The leaf C concentration (LC) of P. australis changed between seasons and was 392.26 (g·kg−1), 417.35 (g·kg−1) and 392.58 (g·kg−1) in spring, summer and autumn, respectively. Leaf N and P concentrations (LN and LP) were 23.49 (g·kg−1), and 17.54 (g·kg−1) and 5.86 (g·kg−1), and 1.00 (g·kg−1), 0.75 (g·kg−1) and 0.16 (g·kg−1), respectively, in the three seasons. The maximum (77.68) and the minimum values (17.00) of LC:LN were observed in the autumn and spring, respectively. Seasonal variations in LC:LP also showed a similar trend, with the greatest value of 3015.91 in autumn and the lowest value of 429.39 in spring. However, the highest (45.67) and the lowest values (24.18) of LN:LP were observed in autumn and summer, respectively, indicating that the growth of P. australis was mainly affected by P. Based on these results, it can be concluded that P. australis adopted a competition strategy during the early growth stage but took on a defense life strategy at the late growth stage to cope with various environments.
Multidimensional Evaluation for Detecting Salt Tolerance of Bread Wheat Genotypes Under Actual Saline Field Growing Conditions
Authors: Mansour Elsayed , Moustafa Ehab S. A. , Desoky El-Sayed M. , Ali Mohamed M. A. , Yasin Mohamed A. T. , Attia Ahmed , Alsuhaibani Nasser , Tahir Muhammad Usman , El-Hendawy Salah
Published: October 2020

Field-based trials and genotype evaluation until yielding stage are two important steps in improving the salt tolerance of crop genotypes and identifying what parameters can be strong candidates for the better understanding of salt tolerance mechanisms in different genotypes. In this study, the salt tolerance of 18 bread wheat genotypes was evaluated under natural saline field conditions and at three saline irrigation levels (5.25, 8.35, and 11.12 dS m−1) extracted from wells. Multidimensional evaluation for salt tolerance of these genotypes was done using a set of agronomic and physio-biochemical attributes. Based on yield index under three salinity levels, the genotypes were classified into four groups ranging from salt-tolerant to salt-sensitive genotypes. The salt-tolerant genotypes exhibited values of total chlorophyll, gas exchange (net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance), water relation (relative water content and membrane stability index), nonenzymatic osmolytes (soluble sugar, free proline, and ascorbic acid), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase), K+ content, and K+/Na+ ratio that were greater than those of salt-sensitive genotypes. Additionally, the salt-tolerant genotypes consistently exhibited good control of Na+ and Cl− levels and maintained lower contents of malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage under high salinity level, compared with the salt-sensitive genotypes. Several physio-biochemical parameters showed highly positive associations with grain yield and its components, whereas negative association was observed in other parameters. Accordingly, these physio-biochemical parameters can be used as individual or complementary screening criteria for evaluating salt tolerance and improvement of bread wheat genotypes under natural saline field conditions.
Influence of Acoustic Oscillations on Continuous-Flow Water Disinfection
Authors: Abramova Anna V. , Bayazitov Vadim M. , Fedulov Igor S. , Nikonov Roman V. , Sister Vladimir G. , Cravotto Giancarlo
Published: October 2020

Water disinfection and potential sterilization in continuous flow was achieved in a hybrid reactor with a broadband hydrodynamic emitter combined with ultrasonic vibrations at different frequencies and with excess pressure. Such a combination showed synergistic effects by increasing the acoustic power in the reactor vortex flow. The present combined physical treatment, compared with sonication alone, could increase microorganism inactivation by 15–20%.
Carbon Dioxide Capture in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Surfaces of Porous Silica Glass
Authors: Boonfung Chontira , Tangsathitkulchai Chaiyot , Wongkoblap Atichat
Published: October 2020

Experimental and simulation studies for carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption on porous silica glass were performed to reveal how surface heterogeneity can affect the adsorption mechanism of CO2. In performing the simulation, the structure of porous silica glass was modeled as a slit pore consisting of parallel walls of connected SiO4 units. The adsorption isotherms of CO2 at 283 K were generated for a series of pore widths using a Monte Carlo ensemble. The defective surfaces created by random removal of surface atoms and the surfaces containing hydroxyl functional groups were chosen to represent the surface heterogeneity for the simulation tasks. The isotherms derived for the defective surfaces showed a rapid adsorption at low pressures because of the stronger interaction between the rough nonuniform surfaces and CO2 molecules. For the role of surface functional groups, the adsorption isotherms dramatically increased with an increasing number of functional groups. The amount of CO2 adsorbed for randomly placed functional groups was greater than that for the presence of functional groups at the pore edges. The proper control of surface heterogeneity by manipulating both the amounts of hydroxyl surface groups and surface defects should help enhance the efficient capture of CO2 in porous silica glass.
Perceptions of the Functions of Religion and Attitude toward Religious Freedom: Introducing the New Indices of the Functions of Religion (NIFoR)
Authors: Breskaya Olga , Francis Leslie J. , Giordan Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

This article proposes, tests, and introduces the New Indices of the Functions of Religion (NIFoR) and explores their relevance for explaining individual differences in attitude toward religious freedom. The theory being tested is that openness to the principles of religious freedom is related to perceptions of the functions of religion in society. A review of extant literature on the functions of religion identified eleven conceptually distinct functions. These functions were operationalised by thirty items. Drawing on data provided by 1035 students in Northern Italy, factor analysis reduced these thirty items to seven latent functions of religion. Regression analysis employing these seven latent functions demonstrated that a more positive attitude toward religious freedom was associated with conceptualising religion as primarily concerned with offering meaning and moral guidance.
Women and Gender in Contemporary European Catholic Discourse: Voices of Faith
Authors: Giorgi Alberta , Palmisano Stefania
Published: October 2020

Catholic women’s movements, networks and initiatives have a long history of advocating for an equal role in the Church—especially in the North American world. In recent years, their presence and visibility has been increasing in Europe too, also in relation to a series of initiatives and events, such as the Mary 2.0 campaign in Germany, which led to the launch of the Catholic Women’s Council (CWC) in 2019. This article focuses on the emerging discourse on women and gender promoted by the developing network of initiatives related to the role of women in the Catholic Church in different European countries. After reconstructing the map and history of this network, the contribution explores its emerging discourse, drawing on a triangulation of data: key-witnesses’ interviews; the magazine Voices; social network pages and profiles.
Comparison of Spectral Reflectance-Based Smart Farming Tools and a Conventional Approach to Determine Herbage Mass and Grass Quality on Farm
Authors: Hart Leonie , Huguenin-Elie Olivier , Latsch Roy , Simmler Michael , Dubois Sébastien , Umstatter Christina
Published: October 2020

The analysis of multispectral imagery (MSI) acquired by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and mobile near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) used on-site has become increasingly promising for timely assessments of grassland to support farm management. However, a major challenge of these methods is their calibration, given the large spatiotemporal variability of grassland. This study evaluated the performance of two smart farming tools in determining fresh herbage mass and grass quality (dry matter, crude protein, and structural carbohydrates): an analysis model for MSI (GrassQ) and a portable on-site NIRS (HarvestLabTM 3000). We compared them to conventional look-up tables used by farmers. Surveys were undertaken on 18 multi-species grasslands located on six farms in Switzerland throughout the vegetation period in 2018. The sampled plots represented two phenological growth stages, corresponding to an age of two weeks and four to six weeks, respectively. We found that neither the performance of the smart farming tools nor the performance of the conventional approach were satisfactory for use on multi-species grasslands. The MSI-model performed poorly, with relative errors of 99.7% and 33.2% of the laboratory analyses for herbage mass and crude protein, respectively. The errors of the MSI-model were indicated to be mainly caused by grassland and environmental characteristics that differ from the relatively narrow Irish calibration dataset. The On-site NIRS showed comparable performance to the conventional Look-up Tables in determining crude protein and structural carbohydrates (error ≤ 22.2%). However, we identified that the On-site NIRS determined undried herbage quality with a systematic and correctable error. After corrections, its performance was better than the conventional approach, indicating a great potential of the On-site NIRS for decision support on grazing and harvest scheduling.
The Consequences of Work–Family Enrichment in Families on the Behaviour of Children
Authors: Van den Eynde Annelies , Mortelmans Dimitri
Published: October 2020

This study considers the spillover effect of work-family enrichment in parents on the behaviour of their children. Using a mediation model with parental well-being and parenting styles, the study unravels the associations between a positive perspective on work-life balance and the outcomes in a child’s live. Using 4012 parents from the data of the Australian LSAC (Growing up in Australia), the model shows that children’s behaviour is influenced by parents’ experience of work-family enrichment through parental well-being. Also, parenting performance functions as a mediator between work-family enrichment and the behaviour of the child. Parents show more stimulating parenting behaviour when they experience enrichment between work and their family.
Impacts of COVID-19 on a Transitioning Energy System, Society, and International Cooperation
Authors: Chapman Andrew , Tsuji Takeshi
Published: October 2020

Short term outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic have included improved air quality and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions, while long term repercussions may include a disruption to joint international research efforts, the creation of silos, and the potential for internalizing efforts toward national rather than global goals. In this study, we identified the impacts of reduced mobility on pollutants and emissions, the emergence of nationalist approaches and effects on international cooperation, and how these issues will affect the achievement of global carbon targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 presents a global short-term crisis and there is a demonstrated global desire and effort to develop a vaccine and effective treatments. Similarly, climate change is also a near future issue, and as a result we need to reduce CO2 emissions rapidly. This review highlights potential policy interventions, which capitalize on learnings from COVID-19, while identifying SDGs 10, 13 and 17 as critical to engendering a successful, cooperative transition toward sustainability. The recognition of the earth as a closed system, demonstrated by the shared impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, may encourage positive future effects on cooperative approaches toward mitigating climate change, another looming crisis for humanity.
Understanding Gender Differences in Students’ Perceptions of Competency Certification for Enhancing Sustainability in Higher Education
Authors: Lim Keol , Eom Sanghyeon , Kim Donjeong , Oh Mija
Published: October 2020

This study of 1780 college students in Korea explored gender differences in perceptions of competency certification programs in order to enhance sustainability in higher education. Structural equation modeling explained the optimal validity of the two-factor structure of perceptions between female and male students, and the structural relations between the two factors of competency were invariant across gender groups. A significant difference in latent means was found as well. The findings suggest that, for sustainable development, universities should develop systematic competency certification policies to accommodate students’ needs, as well as those of society, and help bridge the gender gap in the job market.
Multi-Objective Intelligent Optimization of Superheated Steam Temperature Control Based on Cascaded Disturbance Observer
Authors: Hao Yong-Sheng , Chen Zhuo , Sun Li , Liang Junyu , Zhu Hongxia
Published: October 2020

Superheated steam temperature (SST) is one of the most critical parameters for the process safety, overall efficiency and pollution reduction of coal-fired power plants. However, SST control is challenging due to various disturbances and model uncertainties, especially in the face of the growing penetration of intermittent renewable energy into the power grid. To this end, a cascaded Disturbance Observer-PI (DOB-PI) control strategy is proposed to enhance control performance. The observer design and parameter tuning are carried out through mechanism analysis on the proposed structure. Furthermore, a robust loop shaping method is introduced as a hard constraint to balance the control performance and robustness. The controller parameters are optimized based on the multi-objective artificial bee colony optimization (MOABC) algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed cascaded DOB-PI control strategy can significantly improve the disturbance rejection performance of both the inner- and outer-loops of the SST control system. This paper indicates promising prospects for the proposed method in future applications.
The Valuation of Idle Real Estate in Rural Areas: Analysis and Territorial Strategies
Authors: Richiedei Anna
Published: October 2020

Knowledge of the environment and its weaknesses is the first step in addressing urban development in a more sustainable direction, seeking, for example, to limit the occupation of new land. This research presents a methodology for identifying unused buildings in rural areas and providing strategies for the recovery and reuse of building heritage. The reuse of idle buildings, which are numerous and widespread in Italian agricultural areas, represents a valid opportunity to contain land occupation, redevelop unused areas (often degraded) and develop employment opportunities and social dynamics (as in the case of nonresidential use). The paper defines an expeditious methodology for the identification and subsequent mapping, on a municipal scale, of the unused building heritage that is external to the consolidated urban fabric. The initial data from a case study for the municipality of Chiari (in Italy) are significant: more than 370 unused real estate structures were identified. A successive analysis identified the individual buildings that were completely unused and proposes an assessment of their potential recovery value. This methodology can be useful for directing municipal urban planning strategies and regulations for the recovery of buildings in rural areas and for environmentally acceptable land utilization.
Analysis of Vehicle Breakdown Frequency: A Case Study of New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Chand Sai , Moylan Emily , Waller S. Travis , Dixit Vinayak
Published: October 2020

Traffic incidents such as crashes, vehicle breakdowns, and hazards impact traffic speeds and induce congestion. Recognizing the factors that influence the frequency of these traffic incidents is helpful in proposing countermeasures. There have been several studies on evaluating crash frequencies. However, research on other incident types is sparse. The main objective of this research is to identify critical variables that affect the number of reported vehicle breakdowns. A traffic incident dataset covering 4.5 years (January 2012 to June 2016) in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) was arranged in a panel data format, consisting of monthly reported vehicle breakdowns in 28 SA4s (Statistical Area Level 4) in NSW. The impact of different independent variables on the number of breakdowns reported in each month–SA4 observation is captured using a random-effect negative binomial regression model. The results indicate that increases in population density, the number of registered vehicles, the number of public holidays, average temperature, the percentage of heavy vehicles, and percentage of white-collared jobs in an area increase the number of breakdowns. On the other hand, an increase in the percentage of unrestricted driving licenses and families with children, number of school holidays, and average rainfall decrease the breakdown frequency. The insights offered in this study contribute to a complete picture of the relevant factors that can be used by transport authorities, vehicle manufacturers, sellers, roadside assistance companies, and mechanics to better manage the impact of vehicle breakdowns.
Evoking the Industrial Past at the Urban-Rural Border Region: Social Movements and Cultural Production
Authors: Yuan Huasheng , Li Jun , Yin Duo , Chen Xiaoliang
Published: October 2020

An exploration of industrial ruin sites has received sufficient attention in the past. Framed under the hybrid perspective of non-representational theory and paralleled with Ingold’s taskscape conceptualized terms, this study examines the TSA (train service area), an opencast mining ruins site in Gongguan town of Maoming, southern China, as a case locus to depict the ‘lives lived’ and the textures of the taskscape encountered by locales and to sketch out the iterative and eventful movements of human and non-human dynamic phenomena at the rural-urban interface from the 1960s to the 1980s, with the aim to re-examine the locality of one industrial city and regenerate the local culture. As actualized through ‘stories and dramatic episodes’, i.e., an art intervention of a new geographical historiography, the ‘thick’ landscape of mine transport comes to the stage as the self-landscape and of group-place scenes. In the first scene, the industrial past is evoked along the actor’s movement, through situated knowledge and through shared personhood; thus, the spirit of place is finally obtained through the aesthetic sublimation in the landscaping. In the second scene, the movement between the workplace and other rural areas, which are rural and seasonal, has balanced the gap between the urban and the rural, whilst the proximity of the village to the TSA accelerates the process of rural urbanization in this area. Among which, tea, as a non-human item, irreducibly produces a ‘structure of feeling’ and conjures up a sense of past people and past times and of customs, beliefs and localism.
The Perception and Knowledge of Financial Risk of the Portuguese
Authors: Tavares Fernando , Santos Eulália , Tavares Vasco , Ratten Vanessa
Published: October 2020

This study will help academics, researchers, and professionals to better understand how the Portuguese population perceives financial risk. Thus, the main objective of this study is to analyse and compare the perception and knowledge of financial risk by the Portuguese. The methodology used is quantitative, and the measurement instrument consists of three parts: financial risk perception, financial risk knowledge and sociodemographic characterization of the participants. The sample is composed of 830 Portuguese individuals, over 18 years old. The results demonstrate that financial risk perception is a one-dimensional measurement and that there are low levels of both perception and knowledge of financial risk. It can also be concluded that the Portuguese individuals have a higher level of financial risk perception, when compared to financial risk knowledge, and it is men who have higher levels of perception and knowledge of financial risk. Thus, this study contributes to the literature on financial risk by presenting empirical evidence and relevant conclusions, and it is therefore expected that it will help to improve the perception and knowledge of the financial risk of the Portuguese and, consequently, their financial decisions and financial well-being. Therefore, the study fills a gap, since there are no studies in Portugal that assess the perception and knowledge of financial risk of the Portuguese.
Assessment and Management of Small Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) Stocks in South Korea
Authors: Choi Min-Je , Kim Do-Hoon
Published: October 2020

We aimed to determine the appropriate annual total allowable catch (TAC) levels for the small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis). A Bayesian state-space model was used to assess the species stock. This model has been widely used after research confirmed its reliability over other models. However, setting prior distributions for analyzing this model remains controversial. Therefore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted using the model with different prior distributions and biomass growth functions. Informative and non-informative prior distributions were compared using Schaefer and Fox growth functions. Considering the results of the sensitivity analysis, the assumption of inverse-gamma prior distribution of K, a non-informative distribution, with the Fox function could yield relatively superior estimates than those obtained from other assumptions. Moreover, changing the growth function could have a greater effect on the fitness of the model estimates than changing prior distribution. Therefore, future fishery stock analyses based on this model should consider the effectiveness of various growth functions in addition to the sensitivity analysis for prior distributions. Furthermore, the biomass of small yellow croaker will decrease if the catch increases by 10%. Therefore, the annual TAC levels should be set below the maximum sustainable yield (21,301 tons) for effective small yellow croaker stock management.
Research on Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Shear Spring of the Vibrating Flip-Flow Screen
Authors: Zhao Guofeng , Wang Xinwen , Yu Chi , Liu Shucheng , Zhou Jun , Zhu Guohui
Published: October 2020

The vibrating flip-flow screen (VFFS) is a high-efficiency device currently used for deep screening of moist fine-grained materials. During VFFS operation, the normal operation of the screen is affected by fatigue damage to the shear springs arranged symmetrically on both sides of the screen, leading to equipment failures and disruption production. In this paper, the shear spring’s static and dynamic characteristics in different operation conditions were studied using the INSTRON 8801 fatigue test system and Dynacell dynamic sensors. Using an experimental test of shear spring stiffness and damping coefficients, the effects of some factors, i.e., temperature, hardness, amplitude and frequency, were studied. The results show that the temperature of the shear spring on the left side of the flip-flow screen was higher than that of the right side (driving side). With an increase in temperature, the stiffness of the shear spring decreased. With the increase in amplitude, the dynamic stiffness decreased and the damping coefficients did not change; with the increase in frequency, the dynamic stiffness increased and the damping coefficient decreased. At the same amplitude, with the increase in hardness of the shear spring, the dynamic stiffness increased. Finally, the stiffness and damping coefficients of the shear spring before and after tearing were obviously reduced. These research results reveal the relationship of the characteristics of a shear spring with operational conditions, and could provide a theoretical reference for the design of the VFFS and the selection of the shear spring.
Effectiveness of a Head Movement Interface for Steering a Vehicle in a Virtual Reality Driving Simulation
Authors: Saito Yoshiaki , Kawashima Kazumasa , Hirakawa Masahito
Published: October 2020

Recently, virtual reality (VR) has become popular for a variety of applications, such as manufacturing and entertainment. In this study, considering that a driver’s head moves according to the motion of turning the steering wheel, we explored the effectiveness of head movement as a means for steering a vehicle in a virtual reality driving simulation. First, we analyzed the motion axes that are effective for control and found that the x (horizontal) direction, yaw rotation, and roll rotation are potential candidates. Through the implementation of a simulator, which allows participants to steer the vehicle by means of head movement, it was found that the x-axis movement was the most reliable as it reduced VR sickness while guaranteeing better usability and realistic motion. Human–machine interaction can become conceived of as symmetrical in the sense that if a machine is truly easy for humans to handle, it means that they can get the best out of it.
Bacillus cereus Decreases NHE and CLO Exotoxin Synthesis to Maintain Appropriate Proteome Dynamics During Growth at Low Temperature
Authors: Duport Catherine , Rousset Ludivine , Alpha-Bazin Béatrice , Armengaud Jean
Published: October 2020

Cellular proteomes and exoproteomes are dynamic, allowing pathogens to respond to environmental conditions to sustain growth and virulence. Bacillus cereus is an important food-borne pathogen causing intoxication via emetic toxin and/or multiple protein exotoxins. Here, we compared the dynamics of the cellular proteome and exoproteome of emetic B. cereus cells grown at low (16 °C) and high (30 °C) temperature. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)-based shotgun proteomics analysis identified 2063 cellular proteins and 900 extracellular proteins. Hierarchical clustering following principal component analysis indicated that in B. cereus the abundance of a subset of these proteins—including cold-stress responders, and exotoxins non-hemolytic enterotoxin (NHE) and hemolysin I (cereolysin O (CLO))—decreased at low temperature, and that this subset governs the dynamics of the cellular proteome. NHE, and to a lesser extent CLO, also contributed significantly to exoproteome dynamics; with decreased abundances in the low-temperature exoproteome, especially in late growth stages. Our data therefore indicate that B. cereus may reduce its production of secreted protein toxins to maintain appropriate proteome dynamics, perhaps using catabolite repression to conserve energy for growth in cold-stress conditions, at the expense of virulence.
Peramalan Kedatangan Wisatawan Manca Negara Melalui Bandara Husein Sastra Negara Bandung Dengan Menggunakan Metode Arima (Autoregressive Integreted Moving Average)
Authors: Waluyo Jatmiko Edy
Published: October 2020

Data processing and analysis of foreign tourist arrivals in Bandung through Husein Sastra Bandung Airport is very necessary in an effort to take a decision related to tourism planning in Bandung in particular and national tourism generally, be it planning related to the Airport itself and tourism planning In Bandung Raya. The purpose of this study is to determine the mathematical model or good statistical relationship between the predicted variables (the arrival of foreign tourists through the International Airport Husein Sastra Negara Bandung) with the historical value of these variables using the method of forecasting ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average), so that forecasting can Done with the model. ARIMA is often also called the Box-Jenkins time series method. ARIMA is very good for short-term forecasting, while for long-term forecasting the accuracy of forecasting is not good. Usually will tend to flat (flat / constant) for a long period. The results showed that, to know the accuracy of forecasting model in predicting the data, it can be seen the size of precision of forecasting model in table Fit Model, such as: MAPE, MAE, and others. From the results of fit model testing, it can be seen that the value of MAPE of 21.105% and MAE of 2467.875. This shows that the average accuracy rate of the model in predicting the number of foreign tourist arrivals through Husein Sastra Negara Bandung is 78.895%. To know the value of prediction (prediction) in some period to come, can be seen in table Forecast. While  to know the fluctuation of data, either that has happened or will be foreseen. From the forecast table can be known the value of the forecast of tourist arrivals. From the table can also be calculated the estimated maximum error value in forecasting, for example for forecasting in June-December 2017, with 95% confidence level, it is estimated  that foreign tourist arrivals will not deviate more than 21.105%.
Influence of means of parterre gymnastics on physical fitness of young athletes in acrobatic rock and roll
Authors: Kravchuk T.M. , Sanzharova N.M. , Golenkova Ju.V. , Katrechko I.B.
Published: October 2020

The aim: to determine the effectiveness of the use of means of parterre gymnastics for physical training at the initial stage of long-term training in acrobatic rock and roll. Material and methods. The study involved 28 children 6-7 years (14 girls and 14 boys) engaged in acrobatic rock and roll the first year. Research methods: Study and analysis of scientific-pedagogical and special-methodical literature; analysis of the curriculum for acrobatic rock and roll, rules and videos of competitions; interview of coaches; pedagogical experiment; pedagogical control tests (testing); methods of mathematical statistics.  Results. As a result of the study, a statistically significant positive effect of parterre gymnastics exercises on the level of development of individual physical abilities of young athletes was revealed. Introduction to the educational and training process of young athletes engaged in acrobatic rock ' n ' roll plot complexes of parterre gymnastics for 3 months, contributed to a significant increase in performance: forward tilt, splits, lifting the torso in the air for 1 min. and lifting straight legs in the vise, as well as three somersaults forward (at p <0.05). Conclusions. Priority physical qualities necessary for effective training of young athletes in acrobatic rock and roll are revealed. Among them: flexibility, strength and coordination abilities. On the basis of the analysis of anatomical, physiological and psychological features of the development of children engaged in rock and roll at the initial stage of long-term training, the exercises of parterre gymnastics of a plot orientation are selected. Implemented in the initial training groups. High efficiency of use of means of orchestra gymnastics for development of mobility in hip joints, strength of muscles of a trunk and legs and coordination of movements at children of primary school age who are engaged in acrobatic rock-n-roll at the initial level is experimentally proved.
Influence of swimming on sensory functioning, quality of life and behavior of children with autism
Authors: Musiyenko O.V. , Chopyk R.V. , Kizlo N.B.
Published: October 2020

Aim: to establish the influence of swimming as a means of adaptive physical education on behavior, emotional state, sensory, motor coordination and quality of life of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Material and methods. Three children with autism who were swimming were examined. Research methods: pedagogical observations, pedagogical experiment, method of expert evaluations, questionnaires. Results. There is a significant improvement in the behavior of children with ASD: reducing aggression and autoaggression, reducing the frequency of stereotyped movements, reducing opposition, improving emotional state, improving willpower, improving coordination and dexterity. According to the results of expert assessment, against the background of increasing the results of dexterity, the formation of swimming skills, a significant increase in positive emotions, the acquisition of communication skills there is a significant reduction in problem behavior. Swimming is a powerful sensory stimulus for children with ASD, they improve their sensory profile by promoting proper sensory responses. Swimming contributes to a significant increase in the quality of life of both children and their parents. Conclusions: Swimming is a powerful sensory stimulus for children with ASD. As a result of swimming lessons in children with ASD there is an improvement in behavior, development of communication skills, development of smooth movements, growth of positive emotions, development of swimming skills. Swimming also helps to improve the quality of life of children with ASD and their parents. In children with ASD, swimming helps to improve certain indicators of the sensory profile. Individual swimming lessons can be recommended for children with ASD as an effective means of adaptive physical education.
The Fuzzy Interpolative Berinde Weak Mapping Theorem in Metric Space
Authors: Ampadu Clement Boateng
Published: October 2020

Motivated by [1], this paper obtains a fuzzy fixed point variant of the interpolative Berinde weak mapping theorem of [2] in the setting of complete metric spaces.
What is ‘high-functioning’ in high-functioning autism?
Authors: XIE Guo Hui
Published: October 2020

In several diagnostic manuals of disabilities and disorders, High-Functioning Autism (HFA) is omitted and/or remains an unofficial diagnostic term. However, in 2007, the American Academy of Special Education Professionals has given it an official diagnostic code AU-4.00 in its Educator’s Diagnostic Manual of Disabilities and Disorders (EDM). This has rekindled research to re-look at HFA if it deserves to be given its own diagnostic code. Today, HFA refers to autistics who possess average/above-average intelligence and function in typical settings. This paper explores what ‘high-functioning’ is in the enigmatic condition of HFA.
“El cadáver viviente”, relato fantástico de Emma Felce
Authors: Nájera Ramírez Gabriela
Published: October 2020

En este trabajo se presenta la recuperación de un cuento fantástico intitulado “El cadáver viviente”, escrito por la autora argentina Emma Felce (1909-2005) y publicado en 1939 en el semanario La Novela Popular. El relato de Felce fue uno de los textos galardonados en un certamen literario organizado por el Ateneo Cultural Argentino en 1938. Este concurso tenía como propósito principal impulsar la carrera de escritores jóvenes mediante la publicación de sus obras en una revista de gran difusión.

Además de ofrecer una transcripción cuidada de “El cadáver viviente”, se incluyen apuntes biobibliográficos de la autora, datos de la publicación periódica y del concurso literario, así como un breve comentario del cuento y una reflexión acerca de la importancia de la recuperación de ésta y otras piezas que, si bien constituyen la cara menos conocida de lo fantástico en el Río de la Plata, fueron parte del proceso de conformación y canonización de esa modalidad discursiva.
Zárate Ruiz, Francisco, Dolores Phillipps-López, y Cristina Mondragón. Francisco Zárate Ruiz: cuentos de horror y de locura en el decadentismo mexicano: estudio y antología. Binges: Orbis Tertius, 2017. Impreso. Universitas 25.
Authors: Elías Guadalupe
Published: October 2020

Rescatar la obra de un autor olvidado no es una tarea sencilla. Requiere de una investigación larga y exhaustiva dentro de archivos, bibliotecas y colecciones particulares, sin tener la certeza de que dará los frutos esperados —o fruto alguno siquiera—. Las académicas Dolores Phillipps-López y Cristina Mondragón, quienes han ejecutado esta tarea de manera magistral, nos presentan en esta antología los resultados de su recorrido tras las huellas de Francisco Zárate Ruiz (ca.1875-1907)...
CALIDAD DE PLÁNTULAS DE CHILE ‘POBLANO’ EN LA SIERRA NEVADA DE PUEBLA, MÉXICO
Authors: García-Morales Ciro , Taboada-Gaytán Oswaldo R. , López-Sánchez Higinio , López Pedro Antonio , Mora-Aguilera Gustavo , Tlapal-Bolaños Bertha
Published: October 2020

La producción de chile ‘Poblano’ (Capsicum annuum L.) en la Sierra Nevada de Puebla ha disminuido en los últimos años como consecuencia de la mala calidad de las plántulas, entre otros problemas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar técnicas de manejo que permitan mejorar la calidad de las plántulas producidas en almácigos a cielo abierto, mediante el incremento de su sanidad y vigor, y evaluar la eficiencia de la tierra de encino de la región como sustrato para la producción de plántulas en invernadero. Como variable de respuesta se midió porcentaje de germinación, altura, peso seco de raíz y peso seco de la parte aérea, en plántulas obtenidas mediante la combinación de sustratos, variedades, dosis de fertilización y desinfestación de semillas, en invernadero; en campo se probó la combinación desinfestación del suelo, variedades, niveles de fertilización y desinfestación de semillas. Los resultados en invernadero indicaron mayor porcentaje de germinación, altura y acumulación de materia seca en plántulas desarrolladas en tierra de encino que en aquellas producidas en la mezcla de “peat moss” y tierra de encino. En campo la desinfestación del suelo con agua caliente tendió a reducir el porcentaje de plántulas enfermas; en invernadero y campo la altura de plántula y la acumulación de materia seca se incrementaron al hacer dos aplicaciones de 16N-40P-13K más una aspersión de fertilizante foliar. Es posible mejorar la calidad de la plántula que se produce en almácigos de invernadero mediante una adecuada fertilización, con el uso de tierra de encino como sustrato, en lugar de la mezcla de “peat moss” más tierra de encino, mientras que en almácigos de campo conviene desinfestar el suelo con agua caliente porque tiende a reducir la incidencia de enfermedades.
‘RB-PALOMA’, VARIEDAD DE SORGO BLANCO PARA PRODUCCIÓN DE GRANO Y FORRAJE
Authors: Montes-García Noé , Williams-Alanís Héctor , Moreno-Gallegos Tomas , Cisneros-López Ma. Eugenia , Pecina-Quintero Víctor
Published: October 2020

La sequía tiene un efecto directo en el rendimiento y en la producción de los cultivos agrícolas, y un efecto indirecto en la producción de alimentos, por lo que es necesario disponer de especies vegetales que puedan utilizarse bajo condiciones de escasez de agua y elevadas temperaturas durante el ciclo de cultivo. El sorgo [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] es un cultivo que produce grano y forraje bajo estas condiciones climáticas. En México se siembran anualmente cerca de dos millones de hectáreas de sorgo para grano (SIAP, 2011). De esta superficie, casi 98 % se cultiva con híbridos y el resto con variedades de polinización libre, principalmente para producir forraje.
FÓRMULA PARA ESTIMAR LA PROPORCIÓN DE PLANTAS GENÉTICAMENTE MODIFICADAS MEDIANTE PRUEBAS DE GRUPO
Authors: Montesinos-López Osval A. , Gaytán-Lugo Laura S. , Montesinos-López Abelardo
Published: October 2020

La detección y estimación de la prevalencia de plantas genéticamente modificadas (presencia accidental de las plantas transgénicas no deseadas) está atrayendo una gran atención pública debido a las preocupaciones por los posibles riesgos en la salud de los consumidores. El modelo de Dorfman (pruebas de grupo) es útil para la estimación de proporciones pequeñas (≤ 10 %), ya que produce ahorros de hasta 80 % en el número de pruebas de laboratorio requeridas. Aquí se propone una fórmula para calcular el tamaño de muestra requerido para estimar la proporción de plantas genéticamente modificadas, la cual garantiza intervalos de confianza (IC) angostos porque con una alta probabilidad asegura que el intervalo de confianza observado sea menor que el valor especificado. Dicha fórmula se obtiene con los supuestos de homogeneidad en la distribución de plantas transgénicas en la población y con una prueba diagnóstica imperfecta (sensibilidad y especificidad menor que uno, o menor que 100 %). Esta fórmula brinda el número de grupos necesarios para estimar la proporción de plantas transgénicas y garantiza una alta probabilidad de que el IC observado sea menor que el valor deseado. Se presentan cuadros con escenarios prácticos para los investigadores y un programa en R para obtener el tamaño de la muestra de una manera fácil.