bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teacher Candidates as the Teacher of Record Assists Partner School Districts With the Teacher Shortage
Authors: Rich Gregory , Gray Smith Linda , Alexander Kristi
Published: October 2020

This research essay examined a growing trend in a rural area of the Midwest where PK–12 school districts are partnering with a local university to hire teacher candidates (TCs) as the Teachers of Record (TORs). Many rural school districts are challenged to address the teacher shortage. As a result, many school districts are hiring TCs as the TOR during the TC’s student-teaching experience. Due to the limited research on the topic, this paper aimed to determine if appointing the TC as the TOR was an effective practice. We used three data sources to gauge the perceptions of the TC, the TC’s mentor, and the TC’s administrator. Meeting the needs of partnering districts and providing quality placements for TCs engaged in the culminating field experience can be mutually beneficial for teacher candidates, the school district, and the university.
The TCSEFP Hybrid eMentoring Model
Authors: Bock Marj , Caballero Mari , O'Neal-Hixson Kelly
Published: October 2020

This article describes a hybrid eMentoring model used to support fellows during an 11-month fellowship program, the Teachers College Special Education Fellowship Program (TCSEFP). The TCSEFP is a residency in teaching (RIT) induction program that leads to the completion of a high incidence special education endorsement and a master’s degree in special education. During the fellowship, each participant receives extensive, explicit mentoring from onsite and off-site mentors. This hybrid eMentoring model, developed as a part of the TCSEFP, is facilitated in part via distance technologies.
Desperate Measures
Authors: Black Ernest , Rice Ed
Published: October 2020

Black male teachers are less than two percent of all current teachers in the United States. However, there has been an effort to recruit and retain Black men into the teaching profession for a number of reasons. All student benefit when they have a Black male teacher. Black boys, in particular, have markedly higher test scores and improved discipline when they have a Black male teacher. Black male adults in educational settings is essential for enhancing Black boys’ academic and social development. There is a need for Black male teachers in education. Even with nationwide recruitment efforts like My Brother's Keeper, the numbers of Black male teacher remain small. Additionally, Black male teachers leave the profession at a higher rate than other subgroups. This paper will examine one teacher preparation program's effort to increase retention of Black males in the teacher preparation program and the teaching profession.
Alih Kode dan Campur Kode dalam Interaksi Jual Beli di Pasar Tradisional Prawoto Sukolilo Pati
Authors: Prayogo Wulan
Published: October 2020

Penelitian dilandasi oleh bahwa pemikiran tentang kegiatan interaksi jual-beli di Pasar Tradisional Prawoto, khususnya pada penggalan tuturan saat tawar-menawar barang dagangan yang dilakukan oleh penjual dan pembeli sehingga muncul lah penggunaan alih kode dan campur kode. Data penelitian ini berupa penggalan tuturan interaksi jual-beli yang mengandung (1) alih kode, (2) campur kode. Sumber data dalam penelitian ini yaitu tuturan penjual dan pembeli di pasar tradisional Prawoto Sukolilo Pati. Teknik pengumpulan data adalah teknik simak bebas libat cakap (SBLC) dengan teknik lanjutan rekam dan catat. Hasil penelitian ini membuktikan bahwa penjual dan pembeli  bertransaksi jual beli di pasar tradisional Prawoto banyak menggunakan alih kode dan campur kode.

Kata kunci: alih kode, campur kode
ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSICAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AMONG STUDENTS AGED 10-12 YEARS IN ALBANIA
Authors: Elmazi Rovena
Published: October 2020

One of the major problems of Albania in this day and age is sedentary life characterizing children, a phenomenon which is observed in this age group in most parts of the world. However, the factors leading to this phenomenon in Albania seem to be of a different nature, as compared to those responsible in most developed countries. In general, a number of factors, such as lack of sports facilities, low economic development of the country and other social factors hinder the participation in physical activity and sport of young children living in rural and urban areas in Albania. While in urban areas technological advance also amounts to some extent to fewer and fewer children engaging in physical activities and sports in urban areas. The study aimed to assess anthropometric and physical skills development of students aged 10-12 years living in rural and urban areas of Albania, and further examine the indicators obtained in order to study how these two groups of children compare to each other. The data gathered through this study are indispensable in revealing the level of obesity, physical preparation and identifying talented athletes. 641 students coming from the primary and secondary school systems were subjected to standard anthropometric measurements (weight/height/BMI) and standard physical fitness tests (push-up, high jump, long jump, horizontal stretch, 30m dash, shuttle run 112 m). Based on BMI standards for children of this age group, it can be observed that children living in rural areas demonstrate a growth in body mass which is within the optimal range level for both boys and girls. Even the physical fitness indicators tested speak for a bigger development of children coming from rural areas as compared to their peers living in the city.
THE INFLUENCE OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE, DIVIDEND PAY OUT ON FIRM VALUE AND FIRM PERFORMANCE : EVIDENCE FROM INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE
Authors: Indrayati Indrayati
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study is to test empirically the effect of leverage, investment stock, bond, and dividend policy on firm value and firm performance for agriculture, basic chemical industry, consumer goods, and finance on the Indonesian stock exchange. The population of this study is 632 companies listed on the Indonesian stock exchange, with a sample of 236 companies in 2018-2019, secondary data sources from ICDM, and audited financial reports by collecting documentation data and processing data with moderate multiple linear regression.
The findings of the research are that financial policy proxied by leverage, investment in stocks and bonds shows a significant positive effect on firm performance, and dividend policy also shows a significant positive effect on firm value. To increase the generalizability of research results, future studies will collect data with different populations or different countries. This study contributes to the performance and value of the company where the increase in leverage, investment, bonds, and dividends will increase the performance and value of the company. The implication of this research is to improve the performance and value of the company for the better. This research is limited to capital structure, dividend policy on firm value with firm performance as moderation. Further research can be developed with different samples and more for generalizations.
REGIONAL, ECONOMIC, DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL (NON)COHESION IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
Authors: Jakimovski Prof. Jorde
Published: October 2020

In the past period we witnessed major and essential problems in the regions of the Republic of North Macedonia. The difficulty of individual problems, which are often manifested in a more serious form, as a consequence of the deep economic, social and demographic changes in the society, often visible without deeper scientific analysis, referred to partial measures of the economic, social and demographic policy in a short time interval. Apart from the positive impact, some of these measures of the population created certain uncertainties and insecurities regarding the employment, the reduction of migrations and the improvement of the living standard. Therefore, with certain occasional improvements, for a longer period of time some regions and micro-regions do not follow the dynamics of the overall socio-economic development, rather they slow down the dynamics of development.
This paper should give certain elements that can serve in the creation of individual measures, directions and paths for improving the economic, social and demographic structure in the regions in the Republic of North Macedonia. The paper analyses data at the administrative-territorial level by regions in the period 2002-2015. The territory of the Republic of Macedonia is divided into 8 regions (Vardar, Eastern, South-Western, South-Eastern, Pelagonia, Polog, North-Eastern and Skopje Region).
The paper has been divided into three parts:
1. The first part analyses the general economic indicators of the development of the regions: the dynamics of the share of the gross added value, the gross domestic product per capita and the dynamics of the share of investments by regions.
2. The second part presents the natural movements of the population and the utilization of the labour contingent by regions.
3. The third part of the paper presents the changes in the labour force and the dynamics of salary, as the main source of income.
In fact, all indicators are assessed mainly on the basis of available data from secondary sources (State Statistical Office).
ISO Alongside, Instead, or Inside?
The potential of ISO 21001:2018 to change and challenge higher education accreditation
Authors: Gilbert Dr. Doug
Published: October 2020

The recently released ISO standard, ISO 21001:2018, Educational organizations Management systems for educational organizations Requirements with guidance for use, is poised to have a significant impact on critical elements of quality assurance in higher education. Depending on the nature and extent of existing quality assurance structures, three potential use scenarios of the new standard appear possible: ISO Alongside, ISO Instead, and ISO Inside. The Standard may be used as an adjunct to existing quality assurance approaches (ISO Alongside). Some quality assurance systems may opt to incorporate the attainment of ISO 21001 certification as the determinant of holding an accredited or approved status (ISO Instead). Finally, the achievement of ISO 21001 certification may serve as a pre-requisite to the application for specific recognitions or accreditations (ISO Inside).
TÜRKİYE’DE SENDİKASYON KREDİLERİ İLE DIŞ TİCARET ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN EKONOMETRİK ANALİZİ
Authors: ÜÇLER Sevgi
Published: October 2020

Bu makalenin amacı, Türkiye’de faaliyet gösteren bankalar tarafından 2003-2019 yılları arasında kullanılmış olan sendikasyon kredileri ile dış ticaret arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir. Makalede, dış ticarete etkisi en fazla olan döviz kuru ve dış ticaret haddi değişkenleri de dikkate alınarak değişkenler arasındaki ilişki, Hacker ve Hatemi simetrik (2012) ve Hatemi asimetrik (2012) nedensellik analizi ile test edilmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına göre, dış ticaret dengesinden sendikasyon kredilerine doğru tek yönlü bir nedensellik mevcut iken, diğer değişkenler arasında nedensellik tespit edilememiştir. Hatemi Asimetrik Nedensellik testinde ise, dış ticaret dengesi ve döviz kuru arasında çift yönlü nedensellik tespit edilmiştir. Analizler neticesinde, dış ticaret açığını kapatmada sendikasyon kredilerinin önemli bir rolünün olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
MÜŞTERİ DENEYİMİN ALGILANAN MARKA KİŞİLİĞİNE ETKİSİNİ İNCELEMEYE YÖNELİK ARAŞTIRMA: GSM OPERATÖRLERİ
Authors: ÖZHAN Salih , YÜKSEL Cenk
Published: October 2020

Çalışma Türkiye’de yerleşik olan üç GSM operatöründen, son üç yıldır hizmet almış ve bu süre içerisinde hiç operatörünü değiştirmemiş olan tüketiciler ile operatör değişimi yapmış tüketiciler açısından, hem aktif kullandıkları GSM operatörünün marka kişiliği hem de diğer GSM Operatörlerinin marka kişiliği incelenerek, deneyimin marka kişiliği algısı üzerinde bir etkisinin olup olmadığı incelenmek istenmiştir. GSM sektöründeki üç oyuncunun da benzer hizmetleri verebilmeleri, pazarda bulunabilirlikleri, marka bilinirlikleri gibi değişkenleri de göz önünde bulundurduğumuzda, sahip oldukları marka kişiliğinin tüketici nezdinde daha net oturmuş olacağı düşünülmüştür. Analizler sonucunda, deneyimin algılanan marka kişiliğini etkilediği, diğer GSM operatörlerinden hizmet alan tüketicilerin, kullanmakta oldukları GSM operatörüne yönelik, farklılaşmış marka kişiliği algısında bozulma ve buna bağlı olarak operatörlerde marka kişiliği benzeşmesi olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Deneyim öncesi, markaların marka kişiliği farklılığı çok belirgin iken deneyim sonrası, bir operatörde kısmen diğer iki operatörde ise marka kişiliği algısında marka kişiliği farklılığı yerine yüksek marka kişiliği benzeşmesi tespit edilmiştir. Özetle deneyim faktörünün, GSM operatörlerinde algılanan marka kişiliği algısını bozduğu tespit edilmiştir.
SERBEST ECZACILARIN İŞ STRES DÜZEYLERİNİN BELİRLENMESİ VE BAZI SOSYO-DEMOGRAFİK ÖZELLİKLER AÇISINDAN İNCELENMESİ: ADIYAMAN ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: KIRPIK Gülşen
Published: October 2020

Bu çalışma, Adıyaman ilinde faaliyet gösteren serbest eczanelerin yöneticisi konumundaki eczacıların iş stres düzeylerinin ölçülmesi ve yaşadıkları iş stresinin sosyo-demografik özellikler açısından farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığının ortaya konulması amacıyla yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın evreni olan Adıyaman ilindeki serbest eczacılar arasından basit tesadüfi örneklem yöntemiyle gönüllü olarak katılan 73 serbest eczacı bu çalışmanın örneklemini oluşturmuştur. Sosyo-demografik özelliklere ilişkin sorular ve iş stresi ölçeğine yönelik ifadeler ile elde edilen verilerin çözümlenmesi amacıyla, SPSS 22.0 paket programından ve Microsoft Excel programından yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, Adıyaman ilinde çalışan eczacıların genel iş stresi seviyelerinin çok yüksek olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bununla birlikte, serbest eczacıların cinsiyeti açısından algılanan iş stres düzeyleri incelendiğinde, kadın eczacıların iş stres düzeylerinin erkek eczacılarından anlamlı derecede yüksek olduğu gözlenmiştir. Ancak, serbest eczacıların medeni durumu, kuşak durumu ve iş deneyimi açısından algıladıkları iş stres düzeyleri arasında anlamlı farklılıklar bulunmamıştır. Verilerin elde edildiği zaman aralığının 2019 yılı Ekim, Kasım ve Aralık ayları olması sebebiyle ulaşılan sonuç serbest eczacıların fiziksel ve ruhsal sağlığı açısından endişe vericidir. Çünkü pandemi öncesi yapılan bu çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre, serbest eczacıların algıladığı iş stres düzeylerinin çok yüksek olması durumu, COVID-19 pandemisi ile birlikte değerlendirildiğinde, stres düzeylerinin daha da artacağı tahmin edildiğinden serbest eczacıların yakın zamanda fiziksel ve psikolojik sorunlar yaşayabileceğinin bir belirtisi olarak düşünülebilir.
MENINGKATKAN AKTIVITAS DAN HASIL BELAJAR SISWA SMP PADA MATERI SISTEM RESPIRASI PADA MANUSIA MELALUI MODEL PEMBELAJARAN STUDENT TEAMS ACHIEVEMENT DIVISIONS
Authors: Yuniarti Tati
Published: October 2020

IMPROVING THE ACTIVITY AND LEARNING OUTCOMES OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON LESSONS OF HUMAN RESPIRATION SYSTEMS THROUGH STUDENT TEAMS ACHIEVEMENT DIVISION MODELSThis study aims to improve learning outcomes, see the improvement of learning outcomes, measure the increase in student learning outcomes in the subject matter of Human Respiration System Science through the application of Student Teams Achievement Divisions (STAD) model. This research is a Classroom Action Research by providing action on research subjects in two learning cycles in class VIII.H SMPN 5 Bogor Academic Year 2019/2020. The results of this study indicate that using the Student Teams Achievement Divisions model can be a fun learning variation for students so that it is proven to improve student learning outcomes. Before using the Student Teams Achievement Divisions model in the division it became an average and completeness of learning 62.10 and 34.38% the increase occurred after using the Student Teams Achievement Divisions model in the division to 79.34 and 68.75% in cycle I, and it occurred increased again to 87.26 and 100% in cycle II. The results showed that using the Student Teams Achievement Divisions model in the division which was adapted to learning materials that could create a pleasant atmosphere so that there was an increase in student learning outcomes. Therefore, researchers suggest that the Student Teams Achievement Divisions model be socialized to be used as an alternative in science learning in schools within the Bogor City Education Office.
Didaktiska modeller som kärnan i ämnesdidaktik
Authors: Lunde Torodd , Sjöström Jesper
Published: October 2020

Didaktiska modeller kan fungera som en resurs för att reflektera och kommunicera kring didaktiska frågeställningar som dyker upp i planering, genomförande och utvärdering av undervisning. De kan även tillhandahålla en begreppsapparat som kan synliggöra saker som man som lärare annars inte lika lätt skulle ha uppmärksammat. I forskarskolan NaNo har begreppet didaktiska modeller spelat en central roll. Den tillkom utifrån tanken att förena ämnesdidaktisk forskning med lärares kunnande till en vetenskap för lärare.
On Non-Homogeneous Markov Reward Model to Availability and Importance Analysis for CNC Machine Tools
Authors: Wenbin Zeng , Guixiang Shen , Frenkel Ilia B. , Khvatsckin Lev , Bolvashenkov Igor , Kammermann Jörg , Herzog Hans-Georg
Published: October 2020

This paper exploits the Markov reward method to availability and importance evaluation for CNC machine tools. The presented paper regards CNC machine tools as a multi-state system that state transitions process caused by elements and subsystem’s failures and corresponding maintenance activities during the lifetime. Simultaneously, considering the time-varying characteristics of the failure rates of subsystems, the non-homogeneous Markov reward model is introduced for evaluation of availability and subsystem importance identification for aging multi-state CNC machine tools under minimal repair. Corresponding procedures for the failure rates, state transition matrix, and reward matrix definition are suggested for the availability and importance measures. A numerical example is presented in order to illustrate the approach.
Reliability Assessment of Repairable Systems Using Simple Regression Models
Authors: Álvarez Miguel Ángel Navas , Ibáñez José Carpio , de Mingo Carlos Sancho
Published: October 2020

The statistical nature of failures in repairable systems does not have a behaviour similar to non-repairable systems. The statistical models developed for the study of the reliability of repairable systems mostly based on the application of stochastic processes. However, there is a group of prediction models for reliability based on time series analysis. Below are the results and conclusions of the application of simple regression models in the escalators Avante model (TNE), in order to assess their potential use by maintenance organizations.
Age Based Overhaul Policy for Multiple Repairable Systems with Imperfect Maintenance: Case Study of Aero Engines
Authors: Sharma Garima , Rai Rajiv Nandan
Published: October 2020

Reliability analysis of complex multiple repairable systems (MRS) such as aero engines, rolling stocks and nuclear power plants has always been an area of interest for the research fraternity. An appropriate age based overhaul maintenance policy for such systems can provide impetus to the operations. The paper proposes two different age based maintenance policies; Policy-I and Policy-II, to evaluate the overhaul time of an aero engine, where Policy-I considers MRS with imperfect corrective maintenance (CM), whereas Policy-II examines MRS with both imperfect CM and preventive maintenance (PM). The paper then provides a spare parts estimation model for both the policies. The developed policies and spares parts model are validated by considering field failure data of aero engines as a case and the obtained results are compared with the existing time based maintenance policy used for aero engines. The paper recommends the best policy to be used for MRS in general and the considered case in particular.
The Question of Analyzing System Safety with Consideration to Human Factor
Authors: Aronov Iosif Z. , Rybakova Anna M. , Galkina Nataliia M.
Published: October 2020

This article presents the research results of the human factor effect on system safety. The authors used historical data on inductive reasoning to obtain the results. The article shows that there is no good reason to believe that there is no human factor that the human factor has no effect on system safety. In other words, it is considered that most disasters and incidents were initiated by human beings, the so-called, human factor. It is concluded that inductive reasoning plays a key role in the human factor, which leads to disasters and incidents.
On the Advanced Methodology of Risk-Based System Resilience Analysis
Authors: Kostyuchenko Yuriy V.
Published: October 2020

The modern evolution of technological systems from Hierarchical branching structures purposed to centralized transfer and distribution of limited resources to multi-agent interconnected self-organized networks aimed to produce, transport and consumption of resources are considered. The model of multi-agent interconnected self-organized adaptive networking systems is proposed, the network topology is considered, a system functioning model including transient processes is analyzed. A substantial limitation of the traditional reliability paradigm for a novel type of systems is demonstrated. It was assumed, that optimization approaches in the context of “big data” utilization lead to create a quasi-infinite space of non-structured decisions, which can be characterized as “big decisions”. The modified approach based on the “equally defended networked system” paradigm and the corresponding quantitative risk measure is proposed.
Systematic Human Reliability Analysis (SHRA): A New Approach to Evaluate Human Error Probability (HEP) in a Nuclear Plant
Authors: Di Bona Gianpaolo , Falcone Domenico , Forcina Antonio , Silvestri Luca
Published: October 2020

Emergency management in industrial plants is a fundamental issue to ensure the safety of operators. The emergency management analyses two fundamental aspects: the system reliability and the human reliability. System reliability is the capability of ensuring the functional properties within a variability of work conditions, considering the possible deviations due to unexpected events. However, system reliability is strongly related to the reliability of its weakest component. The complexity of the processes could generate incidental situations and the worker appears (human reliability) to be the weakest part of the whole system. The complexity of systems influences operator’s ability to take decisions during emergencies. The aim of the present research is to develop a new approach to evaluate human error probability (HEP), called Systematic Human Reliability Analysis (SHRA). The proposed approach considers internal and external factors that affect operator’s ability. The new approach is based on Nuclear Action Reliability Assessment (NARA), Simplified Plant Analysis Risk Human Reliability (SPAR-H) and on the Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs) relationship. The present paper analysed some shortcomings related to literature approaches, especially the limitations of the working time. We estimated HEP, after 8 hours (work standard) during emergency conditions. The correlations between the advantages of these three methodologies allows proposing a HEP analysis during accident scenarios emergencies. SHRA can be used to estimate human reliability during emergencies. SHRA has been applied in a nuclear accident scenario, considering 24 hours of working time. The SHRA results highlight the most important internal and external factors that affect operator’s ability.
A Metadata and Z Score-based Load-Shedding Technique in IoT-based Data Collection Systems
Authors: Diván Mario José , Sánchez-Reynoso María Laura
Published: October 2020

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) has emerged as an alternative to communicate different pieces of technology to foster the distributed data collection. The measurement projects and the Real-time data processing are articulated to take advantage of this environment, fostering a sustainable data-driven decision making. The Data Stream Processing Strategy (DSPS) is a Stream Processing Engine focused on measurement projects, where each concept is previously agreed through a measurement framework. The Measurement Adapter (MA) is a component whose responsibility is to pair each metric’s definition from the measurement project with data sensors to transmit data (i.e., measures) with metadata (i.e., tags indicating the data meaning) together. The Gathering Function (GF) receives and derivates data for its processing from each MA, while it implements load-shedding (LS) techniques based on Metadata to avoid a processing collapse when all MAs informs jointly and frequently. Here, a Metadata and Z-score based load-shedding technique implemented locally in the MA is proposed. Thus, the load-shedding is located at the same data source to avoid data transmission and saving resources. Also, an incremental estimation of average, deviations, covariance, and correlations are implemented and employed to calculate the Z-scores and to data retain/discard selectively. Four simulations discrete were designed and performed to analyze the proposal. Results indicate that the local LS required only 24% of the original data transmissions, a minimum of 18.61 ms as the data lifespan, while it consumes 890.26 KB. As future work, other kinds of dependencies analysis will be analyzed to provide local alternatives to LS.
Tripod Turnstile Machines Performance Analysis for the System Safety and Security without Considering Simultaneous Failures using Reliability Approach
Authors: Kumar Pardeep , Kumar Amit
Published: October 2020

As the crime is increasing day by day around the world. To stop the crime many security gadgets and machines have been developed by various security agencies. The tripod turnstile machine also helps in stopping the crime and restricting the entry of unauthorized person on the premises. In this paper, the aim is to analyze the reliability measures of the two tripod turnstile machines which work in a parallel configuration. In the case of non-functionality of the machine, unauthorized persons may enter into the premises. Due to security and safety reason, organizations install these machines. Hence these machines must be highly reliable in the operation to avoid any unwanted event. In this paper, for the considered system, the transition state diagram has been drawn with the help of the Markov model. The Chapman-Kolmogorov differential equations are developed from the transition state diagram and solved using Laplace transformation. The failure and repair rates are assumed to be constant and follow negative exponential distribution. The system upstate and downstate probabilities are determined. The explicit expression of the system Availability, Reliability and MTTF are also obtained. The sensitivity analysis is also performed to determine which machine affects the system reliability the most.
Influence of Genotype and Slaughter Age on the Content of Selected Minerals and Fatty Acids in the Longissimus Thoracis Muscle of Crossbred Bulls
Authors: Momot Martyna , Nogalski Zenon , Pogorzelska-Przybyłek Paulina , Sobczuk-Szul Monika
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of genotype and slaughter age on the mineral content and fatty acid profile of beef. The experiment was performed on 72 crossbred bulls produced by crossing Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) cows with bulls of three beef breeds: Hereford (HH), Limousin (LM), and Charolais (CH), slaughtered at 15, 18, and 21 months of age. Samples of the longissimus thoracis muscle were collected to determine their mineral (potassium—K, sodium—Na, magnesium—Mg, zinc—Zn, and iron—Fe) and fatty acid composition. The meat of PHF × LM crosses had a lower (p ≤ 0.01) content of K and Mg, compared with the remaining crossbred bulls. The Fe content per kg of meat was 4 mg higher (p ≤ 0.01) in bulls slaughtered at 21 months of age than in those slaughtered at 15 months of age. The content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in intramuscular fat was 2.77% higher in bulls slaughtered at 21 months of age than in those slaughtered at 15 months of age. The n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio did not exceed 4.0, and it was most desirable in PHF × LM crosses (2.84) and in the oldest bulls (2.92).
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Extracts Comparative Analysis Regarding Their Phytonutrient Profiles, Antioxidant Capacity along with the In Vivo Rescue Effects Tested on a Drosophila melanogaster High-Sugar Diet Model
Authors: Neamtu Andreea-Adriana , Szoke-Kovacs Rita , Mihok Emoke , Georgescu Cecilia , Turcus Violeta , Olah Neli Kinga , Frum Adina , Tita Ovidiu , Neamtu Carmen , Szoke-Kovacs Zsombor , Cziaky Zoltan , Mathe Endre
Published: October 2020

Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) have been reported to hold a plentitude of health-promoting properties beyond basic nutrition, mainly attributed to their anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity. In this article, we built the phytochemical profile of three wild bilberry fruit extract formulations (aqueous, methanolic, and hydro-methanolic) using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS putative analysis, identifying 88 individual phytochemicals, mainly flavonoids (total content 8.41 ± 0.11 mg QE/g dw), free amino acids, polyphenols (total content 21.68 ± 0.19 mg GAE/g dw), carboxylic acids, and vitamins. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed, reaching 78.03 ± 0.16% DPPH free radical scavenging activity, comparable to literature values determined for bilberry extracts of other origin. Due to the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome and based on the reviewed benefits of bilberries, we tested the most potent formulation of our bilberry extracts in this biological context. The in vivo rescue effect of a bilberry extract supplemented diet on Drosophila melanogaster was assessed by monitoring biochemical and genomic markers. Hemolymph trehalose levels were halved upon addition of 3% hydro-methanolic bilberry extract to a high-sugar (1.5 M sucrose) diet, as compared to the non-supplemented high-sugar diet. Noteworthy, the rescue seen for flies kept on the bilberry extract supplemented high-sugar diet appeared to parallel the trehalose levels observed in the case of the control diet (50 mM sucrose) flies. Moreover, next to the trehalose-lowering type of in vivo effects, other gene expression related rescues were also detected for genes such as InR, Akh, AstA, AstC, Irk, Npc2g, and CCHa2 upon supplementation of the high-sugar diet with our hydro-methanolic bilberry fruit extract. Our findings suggest that such a bilberry fruit extract could generate physiological and genomic type of compensatory mechanisms so that further translational approaches would advance the understanding of some human specific pathological conditions.
Answer Set Programming for Regular Inference
Authors: Wieczorek Wojciech , Jastrzab Tomasz , Unold Olgierd
Published: October 2020

We propose an approach to non-deterministic finite automaton (NFA) inductive synthesis that is based on answer set programming (ASP) solvers. To that end, we explain how an NFA and its response to input samples can be encoded as rules in a logic program. We then ask an ASP solver to find an answer set for the program, which we use to extract the automaton of the required size. We conduct a series of experiments on some benchmark sets, using the implementation of our approach. The results show that our method outperforms, in terms of CPU time, a SAT approach and other exact algorithms on all benchmarks.
Design of the Crosslinking Reactions for Nucleic Acids-Binding Protein and Evaluation of the Reactivity
Authors: Odaira Kenta , Yamada Ken , Ishiyama Shogo , Okamura Hidenori , Nagatsugi Fumi
Published: October 2020

Selective chemical reactions of biomolecules are some of the important tools for investigations by biological studies. We have developed the selective crosslinking reactions to form covalent bonds to DNA or RNA using crosslinking oligonucleotides (CFO) bearing reactive bases. In this study, we designed the cross-linkable 4-amino-6-oxo-2-vinyltriazine derivative with an acyclic linker (acyAOVT) to react with the nucleic acids-binding protein based on our previous results. We hypothesized that the acyAOVT base would form a stable base pair with guanine by three hydrogen bonds at the positions of the vinyl group in the duplex DNA major groove, and the vinyl group can react with the nucleophilic species in the proximity, for example, the cysteine or lysine residue in the nucleic acids-binding protein. The synthesized oligonucleotides bearing the acyAOVT derivative showed a higher reactivity than that of the corresponding pyrimidine derivative without one nitrogen. The duplex containing acyAOVT-guanine (G) formed complexes with Hha1 DNMT even in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. We expect that our system will provide a useful tool for the molecular study of nucleic acids-binding proteins.
A Multiobjective Perspective to Optimal Sensor Placement by Using a Decomposition-Based Evolutionary Algorithm in Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Lin Tsung-Yueh , Tao Jin , Huang Hsin-Haou
Published: October 2020

The objective of optimal sensor placement in a dynamic system is to obtain a sensor layout that provides as much information as possible for structural health monitoring (SHM). Whereas most studies use only one modal assurance criterion for SHM, this work considers two additional metrics, signal redundancy and noise ratio, combining into three optimization objectives: Linear independence of mode shapes, dynamic information redundancy, and vibration response signal strength. A modified multiobjective evolutionary algorithm was combined with particle swarm optimization to explore the optimal solution sets. In the final determination, a multiobjective decision-making (MODM) strategy based on distance measurement was used to optimize the aforementioned objectives. We applied it to a reduced finite-element beam model of a reference building and compared it with other selection methods. The results indicated that MODM suitably balanced the objective functions and outperformed the compared methods. We further constructed a three-story frame structure for experimentally validating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The results indicated that complete structural modal information can be effectively obtained by applying the MODM approach to identify sensor locations.
Integrating in situ Measurements and City Scale Modelling to Assess the COVID–19 Lockdown Effects on Emissions and Air Quality in Athens, Greece
Authors: Grivas Georgios , Athanasopoulou Eleni , Kakouri Anastasia , Bailey Jennifer , Liakakou Eleni , Stavroulas Iasonas , Kalkavouras Panayiotis , Bougiatioti Aikaterini , Kaskaoutis Dimitris , Ramonet Michel , Mihalopoulos Nikolaos , Gerasopoulos Evangelos
Published: October 2020

The lockdown measures implemented worldwide to slow the spread of the COVID–19 pandemic have allowed for a unique real-world experiment, regarding the impacts of drastic emission cutbacks on urban air quality. In this study we assess the effects of a 7-week (23 March–10 May 2020) lockdown in the Greater Area of Athens, coupling in situ observations with estimations from a meteorology-atmospheric chemistry model. Measurements in central Athens during the lockdown were compared with levels during the pre- and post-lockdown 3-week periods and with respective levels in the four previous years. We examined regulatory pollutants as well as CO2, black carbon (BC) and source-specific BC components. Models were run for pre-lockdown and lockdown periods, under baseline and reduced-emissions scenarios. The in-situ results indicate mean concentration reductions of 30–35% for traffic-related pollutants in Athens (NO2, CO, BC from fossil fuel combustion), compared to the pre-lockdown period. A large reduction (53%) was observed also for the urban CO2 enhancement while the reduction for PM2.5 was subtler (18%). Significant reductions were also observed when comparing the 2020 lockdown period with past years. However, levels rebounded immediately following the lift of the general lockdown. The decrease in measured NO2 concentrations was reproduced by the implementation of the city scale model, under a realistic reduced-emissions scenario for the lockdown period, anchored at a 46% decline of road transport activity. The model permitted the assessment of air quality improvements on a spatial scale, indicating that NO2 mean concentration reductions in areas of the Athens basin reached up to 50%. The findings suggest a potential for local traffic management strategies to reduce ambient exposure and to minimize exceedances of air quality standards for primary pollutants.
The Immune Response of the Invasive Golden Apple Snail to a Nematode-Based Molluscicide Involves Different Organs
Authors: Montanari Alice , Bergamini Giulia , Ferrari Agnese , Ferri Anita , Nasi Milena , Simonini Roberto , Malagoli Davide
Published: October 2020

The spreading of alien and invasive species poses new challenges for the ecosystem services, the sustainable production of food, and human well-being. Unveiling and targeting the immune system of invasive species can prove helpful for basic and applied research. Here, we present evidence that a nematode (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita)-based molluscicide exerts dose-dependent lethal effects on the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata. When used at 1.7 g/L, this biopesticide kills about 30% of snails within one week and promotes a change in the expression of Pc-bpi, an orthologue of mammalian bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPI). Changes in Pc-bpi expression, as monitored by quantitative PCR (qPCR), occurred in two immune-related organs, namely the anterior kidney and the gills, after exposure at 18 and 25 °C, respectively. Histological analyses revealed the presence of the nematode in the snail anterior kidney and the gills at both 18 and 25 °C. The mantle and the central nervous system had a stable Pc-bpi expression and seemed not affected by the nematodes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments demonstrated the expression of Pc-bpi in circulating hemocytes, nurturing the possibility that increased Pc-bpi expression in the anterior kidney and gills may be due to the hemocytes patrolling the organs. While suggesting that P. hermaphrodita-based biopesticides enable the sustainable control of P. canaliculata spread, our experiments also unveiled an organ-specific and temperature-dependent response in the snails exposed to the nematodes. Overall, our data indicate that, after exposure to a pathogen, the snail P. canaliculata can mount a complex, multi-organ innate immune response.
MMP-8, TRAP-5, and OPG Levels in GCF Diagnostic Potential to Discriminate between Healthy Patients’, Mild and Severe Periodontitis Sites
Authors: Hernández Marcela , Baeza Mauricio , Contreras Johanna , Sorsa Timo , Tervahartiala Taina , Valdés Macarena , Chaparro Alejandra , Hernández-Ríos Patricia
Published: October 2020

Biomarkers represent promising aids in periodontitis, host-mediate diseases of the tooth-supporting tissues. We assessed the diagnostic potential of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5 (TRAP-5), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) to discriminate between healthy patients’, mild and severe periodontitis sites. Thirty-one otherwise healthy volunteers with and without periodontal disease were enrolled at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile. Periodontal parameters were examined and gingival crevicular fluid was sampled from mild periodontitis sites (M; n = 42), severe periodontitis sites (S; n = 59), and healthy volunteer sites (H; n = 30). TRAP-5 and OPG were determined by commercial multiplex assay and MMP-8 by the immunofluorometric (IFMA) method. STATA software was used. All biomarkers showed a good discrimination performance. MMP-8 had the overall best performance in regression models and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, with high discrimination of healthy from periodontitis sites (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.901). OPG showed a very high diagnostic precision (AUC ≥ 0.95) to identify severe periodontitis sites (S versus H + M), while TRAP-5 identified both healthy and severe sites. As conclusions, MMP-8, TRAP-5, and OPG present a high precision potential in the identification of periodontal disease destruction, with MMP-8 as the most accurate diagnostic biomarker.
HIV-Infected Patients: Cross Site-Specific Hydrolysis of H2a and H2b Histones and Myelin Basic Protein with Antibodies against These Three Proteins
Authors: Baranova Svetlana V. , Dmitrienok Pavel S. , Buneva Valentina N. , Nevinsky Georgy A.
Published: October 2020

Anti-DNA antibodies are usually produced against histone-DNA complexes appearing during cell apoptosis, while histones are known as damage-associated molecules. A myelin sheath of axons contains myelin basic protein (MBP) playing an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Antibodies with enzymatic activities (abzymes) are distinctive features of some autoimmune and viral diseases. Abzymes against different proteins can usually only hydrolyze these specific proteins. Using sequential chromatographies of homogeneous IgG preparations from sera of HIV-infected patients on columns with immobilized MBP, H2a, and H2b histones, the anti-MBP, anti-H2a, and anti-H2b antibodies were obtained. It was first shown that IgGs against H2a and H2b effectively hydrolyze these histones and MBP, while anti-MBP split MBP, H2a, and H2b, but no other control proteins. Using the MALDI mass spectrometry, the cleavage sites of H2a, H2b, and MBP by abzymes against these three proteins were found. Among 14 sites of hydrolysis of H2a by IgGs against H2a and 10 sites by anti-MBP IgGs, only one site of hydrolysis was the same for these abzymes. Eleven cleavage sites of H2b with IgGs against H2b and 10 sites of its hydrolysis with antibodies against MBP were different. Anti-H2a, anti-H2b, and anti-MBP abzymes are unpredictable examples of IgGs possessing not only cross-complexation but also catalytic cross-reactivity, which may be a common phenomenon for such abzymes in patients with different autoimmune diseases. The existence of cross-reactivity of abzymes against H2a and H2b histones and MBP represent a great danger to humans since, in contrast with MBP, histones due to cell apoptosis constantly occur in human blood. Anti-H2a, anti-H2b, and anti-MBP can attack and hydrolyze myelin basic protein of the myelin sheath of axons and plays a negative role in the pathogenesis of several pathologies.
Predictive Values of Blood-Based RNA Signatures for the Gemcitabine Response in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Piquemal David , Noguier Florian , Pierrat Fabien , Bruno Roman , Cros Jerome
Published: October 2020

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is expected to be the second cause of cancer death by 2022. For nearly 80% of patients, diagnosis occurs at an advanced, nonsurgical stage, making such patients incurable. Gemcitabine is still an important component in PDAC treatment and is most often used as a backbone to test new targeted therapies and there is, to date, no routine biomarker to predict its efficacy. Samples from a phase III randomized trial were used to develop through a large approach based on blood-based liquid biopsy, transcriptome profiling, and machine learning, a nine gene predictive signature for gemcitabine sensitivity. Patients with a positive test (41.6%) had a significantly longer progression free survival (PFS) (3.8 months vs. 1.9 months p = 0.03) and a longer overall survival (OS) (14.5 months vs. 5.1, p < 0.0001). In multivariate analyses, this signature was independently associated with PFS (HR = 0.5 (0.28–0.9) p = 0.025) and OS (HR = 0.39 (0.21–0.7) p = 0.002).
Recent Progress in Catalysts for Hydrogen-Chlorine Regenerative Fuel Cells
Authors: Carvela Mireya , Raschitor Alexandra , Rodrigo Manuel A. , Lobato Justo
Published: October 2020

The increasing energy demand and the subsequent climate change consequences are supporting the search for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. In this scenario, the link between hydrogen and renewable energy is playing a key role and unitized hydrogen-chlorine (H2-Cl2) regenerative cells (RFCs) have become promising candidates for renewable energy storage. Described herein are the recent advances in cell configurations and catalysts for the different reactions that may take place in these systems, that work in both modes: electrolysis and fuel cell. It has been found that platinum (Pt)-based catalysts are the best choice for the electrode where hydrogen is involved, whereas for the case of chlorine, ruthenium (Ru)-based catalysts are the best candidates. Only a few studies were found where the catalysts had been tested in both modes and recent advances are focused on decreasing the amount of precious metals contained in the catalysts. Moreover, the durability of the catalysts tested under realistic conditions has not been thoroughly assessed, becoming a key and mandatory step to evaluate the commercial viability of the H2-Cl2 RFC technology.
Characterization of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Tissue Factors in Rosacea: A Pilot study
Authors: Lohova Elizabeta , Pilmane Mara , Rone-Kupfere Mara , Kisis Janis
Published: October 2020

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease mainly affecting the facial skin. Our aim was to determine the appearance of pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines in rosacea-affected facial tissue. Materials and Methods: Rosacea tissue were obtained from eight patients (aged 35 to 50 years). The control group (CG) included four facial skin samples (49 to 70 years). Routine staining and immunohistochemistry for IL-1, IL-10, LL-37, HBD-2, and HBD-4 proceeded. Results: Inflammation was observed in all the rosacea samples. A statistically significant difference was seen between epithelial HBD-2 positive cells in comparison to the control. There was a strong positive correlation between HBD-4 in the epithelium and HBD-4 in the connective tissue, IL-10 in the epithelium and IL-1 in the connective tissue, and IL-1 in the epithelium and IL-10 in the connective tissue. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-10 and decreased levels of IL-1 show the balance between anti- and pro-inflammatory tissue responses. A significant amount of HBD-2 in the epithelium proves its important role in the local immune response of rosacea-affected tissue. The last effect seems to be intensified by the elevated level of LL-37 in the epithelium.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA) with Image Enhancement
Authors: Itonaga Masahiro , Ashida Reiko , Kitano Masayuki
Published: October 2020

Although endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is useful in the differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions, lymph nodes, and liver lesions, inadequate sampling may result in an incorrect pathological diagnosis. The accuracy of EUS for the evaluation of pancreatobiliary lesions may be increased by image enhancement technologies, including contrast-enhanced harmonic (CH)-EUS and EUS-elastography. These methods can provide information that complement EUS-FNA for the diagnosis and staging of pancreatobiliary cancer, and can help to identify the EUS-FNA target, reducing the requirement for repeat FNA.