bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Massive gene presence-absence variation shapes an open pan-genome in the Mediterranean mussel
Authors: Gerdol Marco , Moreira Rebeca , Cruz Fernando , Gómez-Garrido Jessica , Vlasova Anna , Rosani Umberto , Venier Paola , Naranjo-Ortiz Miguel A. , Murgarella Maria , Greco Samuele , Balseiro Pablo , Corvelo André , Frias Leonor , Gut Marta , Gabaldón Toni , Pallavicini Alberto , Canchaya Carlos , Novoa Beatriz , Alioto Tyler S. , Posada David , Figueras Antonio
Published: November 2020

Background

The Mediterranean musselMytilus galloprovincialisis an ecologically and economically relevant edible marine bivalve, highly invasive and resilient to biotic and abiotic stressors causing recurrent massive mortalities in other bivalves. Although these traits have been recently linked with the maintenance of a high genetic variation within natural populations, the factors underlying the evolutionary success of this species remain unclear.

Results

Here, after the assembly of a 1.28-Gb reference genome and the resequencing of 14 individuals from two independent populations, we reveal a complex pan-genomic architecture inM. galloprovincialis, with acoreset of 45,000 genes plus a strikingly high number ofdispensablegenes (20,000) subject to presence-absence variation, which may be entirely missing in several individuals. We show that dispensable genes are associated with hemizygous genomic regions affected by structural variants, which overall account for nearly 580 Mb of DNA sequence not included in the reference genome assembly. As such, this is the first study to report the widespread occurrence of gene presence-absence variation at a whole-genome scale in the animal kingdom.

Conclusions

Dispensablegenes usually belong to young and recently expanded gene families enriched in survival functions, which might be the key to explain the resilience and invasiveness of this species. This unique pan-genome architecture is characterized by dispensable genes in accessory genomic regions that exceed by orders of magnitude those observed in other metazoans, including humans, and closely mirror the open pan-genomes found in prokaryotes and in a few non-metazoan eukaryotes.
Research and application of single-cell sequencing in tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance of circulating tumor cells
Authors: Dai Zhe , Gu Xu-yu , Xiang Shou-yan , Gong Dan-dan , Man Chang-feng , Fan Yu
Published: November 2020

Malignant tumor is a largely harmful disease worldwide. The cure rate of malignant tumors increases with the continuous discovery of anti-tumor drugs and the optimisation of chemotherapy options. However, drug resistance of tumor cells remains a massive obstacle in the treatment of anti-tumor drugs. The heterogeneity of malignant tumors makes studying it further difficult for us. In recent years, using single-cell sequencing technology to study and analyse circulating tumor cells can avoid the interference of tumor heterogeneity and provide a new perspective for us to understand tumor drug resistance.
Oxidation resistance 1 functions in the maintenance of cellular survival and genome stability in response to oxidative stress-independent DNA damage
Authors: Matsui Ako , Hashiguchi Kazunari , Suzuki Masao , Zhang-Akiyama Qiu-Mei
Published: November 2020

Background

DNA damage is generated by various intrinsic and extrinsic sources such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and environmental mutagens, and causes genomic alterations. DNA damage response (DDR) is activated to induce cell cycle arrest and DNA repair. Oxidation resistance 1 (OXR1) is a protein that defends cells against oxidative stress. We previously reported that OXR1 protein functions in the regulation of G2-phase cell cycle arrest in cells irradiated with gamma-rays, suggesting that OXR1 directly responds to DNA damage.

Purpose

To clarify the functions of OXR1 against ROS-independent DNA damage, HeLa and OXR1-depleted HeLa cells were treated with heavy-ion beams and the ROS-independent DNA-damaging agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS).

Results

First, OXR1-depleted cells exhibited higher sensitivity to MMS and heavy-ion beams than control cells. Next, OXR1 depletion increased micronucleus formation and shortened the duration of G2-phase arrest after treatment with MMS or heavy-ion beams. These results suggest that OXR1 functions in the maintenance of cell survival and genome stability in response to DNA damage. Furthermore, the OXR1 protein level was increased by MMS and heavy-ion beams in HeLa cells.

Conclusions

Together with our previous study, the present study suggests that OXR1 plays an important role in the response to DNA damage, not only when DNA damage is generated by ROS.
Transcriptomic and Epigenetic Preservation of Genetic Sex Identity in Estrogen-feminized Male Chicken Embryonic Gonads
Authors: Shioda Keiko , Odajima Junko , Kobayashi Misato , Kobayashi Mutsumi , Cordazzo Bianca , Isselbacher Kurt J , Shioda Toshi
Published: November 2020

Whereas in ovo exposure of genetically male (ZZ) chicken embryos to exogenous estrogens temporarily feminizes gonads at the time of hatching, the morphologically ovarian ZZ-gonads (FemZZs for feminized ZZ gonads) are masculinized back to testes within 1 year. To identify the feminization-resistant “memory” of genetic male sex, FemZZs showing varying degrees of feminization were subjected to transcriptomic, DNA methylome, and immunofluorescence analyses. Protein-coding genes were classified based on their relative mRNA expression across normal ZZ-testes, genetically female (ZW) ovaries, and FemZZs. We identified a group of 25 genes that were strongly expressed in both ZZ-testes and FemZZs but dramatically suppressed in ZW-ovaries. Interestingly, 84% (21/25) of these feminization-resistant testicular marker genes, including the DMRT1 master masculinizing gene, were located in chromosome Z. Expression of representative marker genes of germline cells (eg, DAZL or DDX4/VASA) was stronger in FemZZs than normal ZZ-testes or ZW-ovaries. We also identified 231 repetitive sequences (RSs) that were strongly expressed in both ZZ-testes and FemZZs, but these RSs were not enriched in chromosome Z. Although 94% (165/176) of RSs exclusively expressed in ZW-ovaries were located in chromosome W, no feminization-inducible RS was detected in FemZZs. DNA methylome analysis distinguished FemZZs from normal ZZ- and ZW-gonads. Immunofluorescence analysis of FemZZ gonads revealed expression of DMRT1 protein in medullary SOX9+ somatic cells and apparent germline cell populations in both medulla and cortex. Taken together, our study provides evidence that both somatic and germline cell populations in morphologically feminized FemZZs maintain significant transcriptomic and epigenetic memories of genetic sex.
RAS-mediated suppression of PAR3 and its effects on SCC initiation and tissue architecture occur independently of hyperplasia
Authors: Ling Ji , Sckaff Maria , Tiwari Manisha , Chen Yifang , Li Jingting , Jones Jackson , Sen George L.
Published: November 2020

Proper epithelial development and homeostasis depends on strict control of oriented cell division. Current evidence shows that this process is regulated by intrinsic polarity factors and external spatial cues. Owing to the lack of an appropriate model system that can recapitulate the architecture of the skin, deregulation of spindle orientation in human epithelial carcinoma has never been investigated. Here, using an inducible model of human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we demonstrate that RAS-dependent suppression of PAR3 (encoded by PARD3) accelerates epithelial disorganization during early tumorigenesis. Diminished PAR3 led to loss of E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion, which in turn contributed to misoriented cell division. Pharmacological inhibition of the MAPK pathway downstream of RAS activation reversed the defects in PAR3 expression, E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and mitotic spindle orientation. Thus, temporal analysis of human neoplasia provides a powerful approach to study cellular and molecular transformations during early oncogenesis, which allowed identification of PAR3 as a critical regulator of tissue architecture during initial human SCC development.
Quality Disclosure Under Consumer Loss Aversion
Authors: Zhang Jianqiang , Li Krista J.
Published: November 2020

Consumers experience a sense of loss when a product’s quality does not match their expectations. To alleviate consumer loss aversion (CLA), firms can disclose information to reduce consumers’ uncertainty about product quality and the resulting psychological loss. In this paper, we investigate the implications of CLA on firm profit, consumer surplus, and social welfare when firms endogenously make quality disclosure decisions. We find that CLA leads symmetric firms to disclose quality more often. Given that CLA weakly reduces consumers’ utility from buying a product and quality disclosure is costly, intuition suggests that CLA is detrimental to firms. We find that this intuition is true only in a monopoly. Surprisingly, CLA makes both firms in a competition better off. Moreover, CLA increases firms’ profit when they invest in quality disclosure instead of money-back guarantees to respond to CLA. We also find that CLA decreases consumer surplus and social welfare. Therefore, educating consumers to improve decision-making skills by deliberating on future outcomes and emotions can benefit firms at the cost of consumers and society. When firms disclose quality sequentially, CLA can discourage the follower from disclosing quality. A strong level of CLA increases the leader’s profit over the follower’s, thereby encouraging firms to be the first mover in quality disclosure.

This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
NOX5-induced uncoupling of endothelial NO synthase is a causal mechanism and theragnostic target of an age-related hypertension endotype
Authors: Elbatreek Mahmoud H. , Sadegh Sepideh , Anastasi Elisa , Guney Emre , Nogales Cristian , Kacprowski Tim , Hassan Ahmed A. , Teubner Andreas , Huang Po-Hsun , Hsu Chien-Yi , Schiffers Paul M. H. , Janssen Ger M. , Kleikers Pamela W. M. , Wipat Anil , Baumbach Jan , De Mey Jo G. R. , Schmidt Harald H. H. W.
Published: November 2020

Hypertension is the most important cause of death and disability in the elderly. In 9 out of 10 cases, the molecular cause, however, is unknown. One mechanistic hypothesis involves impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation through reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Indeed, ROS forming NADPH oxidase (Nox) genes associate with hypertension, yet target validation has been negative. We re-investigate this association by molecular network analysis and identify NOX5, not present in rodents, as a sole neighbor to human vasodilatory endothelial nitric oxide (NO) signaling. In hypertensive patients, endothelial microparticles indeed contained higher levels of NOX5—but not NOX1, NOX2, or NOX4—with a bimodal distribution correlating with disease severity. Mechanistically, mice expressing human Nox5 in endothelial cells developed—upon aging—severe systolic hypertension and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation due to uncoupled NO synthase (NOS). We conclude that NOX5-induced uncoupling of endothelial NOS is a causal mechanism and theragnostic target of an age-related hypertension endotype. Nox5 knock-in (KI) mice represent the first mechanism-based animal model of hypertension.
A compound downregulation of SRRM2 and miR-27a-3p with upregulation of miR-27b-3p in PBMCs of Parkinson’s patients is associated with the early stage onset of disease
Authors: Fazeli Soudabeh , Motovali-Bashi Majid , Peymani Maryam , Hashemi Motahare-Sadat , Etemadifar Masoud , Nasr-Esfahani Mohammad Hossein , Ghaedi Kamran
Published: November 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is diagnosed when motor symptoms emerges, which almost 70% of dopamine neurons are lost. Therefore, early diagnosis of PD is crucial to prevent the progress of disease. Blood-based biomarkers, which are minimally invasive, potentially used for diagnosis of PD, including miRNAs. The aim of this study was to assess whether SRRM2 and miR-27a/b-3p could act as early diagnostic biomarkers for PD. Total RNAs from PBMCs of 30 PD’s patients and 14 healthy age and gender matched subjects was extracted. The expression levels of respective genes were assessed. Data were presented applying a two-tailed unpairedt-test and one-way ANOVA. We observed significant down-regulation ofSRRM2(p= 0.0002) and miR-27a-3p (p= 0.0001), and up-regulation of miR-27b-3p (p= 0.02) in PBMCs of Parkinson's patients. Down-regulation of miR-27a-3p is associated with increasing disease severity, whereas the up-regulation of miR-27b-3p was observed mostly at HY-1 and disease duration between 3–5 years. There was a negative correlation between SRRM2 and miR-27b-3p expressions, and miR-27a-3p positively was correlated with miR-27b-3p. Based on functional enrichment analysis,SRRM2and miR-27a/b-3p acted on common functional pathways. miR-27a/b-3p could potentially predict the progression and severity of PD. Although both miRs had no similarity on expression, a positive correlation between both miRs was identified, supporting their potential role as biomarkers in clinical PD stages. Of note that SRRM2 and miR-27a-3p were able to distinguish PD patients from healthy individuals. Functional analysis of the similarity between genes associated with SRRM2 and miR-27a/b-3p indicates common functional pathways and their dysfunction correlates with molecular etiopathology mechanisms of PD onset.
Identification of a 6-gene signature for the survival prediction of breast cancer patients based on integrated multi-omics data analysis
Authors: Mo Wenju , Ding Yuqin , Zhao Shuai , Zou Dehong , Ding Xiaowen
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To identify a gene signature for the prognosis of breast cancer using high-throughput analysis.

Methods

RNASeq, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), copy number variation (CNV) data and clinical follow-up information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and randomly divided into training set or verification set. Genes related to breast cancer prognosis and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with CNV or SNP were screened from training set, then integrated together for feature selection of identify robust biomarkers using RandomForest. Finally, a gene-related prognostic model was established and its performance was verified in TCGA test set, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) validation set and breast cancer subtypes.

Results

A total of 2287 prognosis-related genes, 131 genes with amplified copy numbers, 724 gens with copy number deletions, and 280 genes with significant mutations screened from Genomic Variants were closely correlated with the development of breast cancer. A total of 120 candidate genes were obtained by integrating genes from Genomic Variants and those related to prognosis, then 6 characteristic genes (CD24, PRRG1, IQSEC3, MRGPRX, RCC2, and CASP8) were top-ranked by RandomForest for feature selection, noticeably, several of these have been previously reported to be associated with the progression of breast cancer. Cox regression analysis was performed to establish a 6-gene signature, which can stratify the risk of samples from training set, test set and external validation set, moreover, the five-year survival AUC of the model in the training set and validation set was both higher than 0.65. Thus, the 6-gene signature developed in the current study could serve as an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer patients.

Conclusion

This study constructed a 6-gene signature as a novel prognostic marker for predicting the survival of breast cancer patients, providing new diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer patients.
The Indecent Screen: Regulating Television in the Twenty-First Century, Cynthia Chris (2019)
Authors: Later Naja
Published: November 2020

Review of: The Indecent Screen: Regulating Television in the Twenty-First Century, Cynthia Chris (2019)

New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 254 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-81359-406-4, p/bk, $29.95
Irudi Digitalen Analisia: espektrofotometroa ordezkatzen
Authors: Albizu Gorka , Berasarte Irati , Bordagaray Ane , Dávila Sergio , Jaime-Barquero Edurne
Published: November 2020

Irudi digitalen analisia (DIA) teknika multzo batek osatzen du eta helburu nagusia da aztergai den sistema bati buruzko informazio adierazgarria determinatzea sistema horren irudiak erabiliz. Metodoaren abantaila nagusiak bere abiadura, sinpletasuna eta beharrezko lagin kopuru txikia dira (400 μL-tik behera mikroplakak erabiltzen badira), baita sortutako hondakin kopuru txikia ere. Lan honetan DIAren hiru aplikazio desberdin deskribatzen dira: nikel bainuetan aurki daitezkeen konposatu nagusien analisia eta kontrola, hala nola, nikela, amonioa eta sulfatoak; fosfatoen eta pH-aren aldibereko determinazioa malko artifizialetan eta tartrazina eta allura gorria koloratzaileen determinazioa jangaietan. Aplikazio hauetan, mahaigaineko eskanerra eta telefono mugikorra erabili dira irudiak eskuratzeko.
Plutarch’s Sons- and Bothers-in-law
Authors: Casanova Angelo
Published: November 2020

From the Consolatio uxoris we learn that Plutarch and Timoxena had one single daughter, who was born after four sons and only lived to be two years old. Since in the Quaestiones convivales we encounter three different characters (Craton, Firmus and Patrocleas) indicated as Plutarch’s gambroi, some critics state them to be his sons-in-law, thus supposing the existence of three married daughters; others prefer to consider them as the husbands of Plutarch’s nieces; still others reject both conclusions and think the term gambroi merely refers to “relatives” in general. A careful analysis of all the passages involved clearly shows, in the first place, that gambros can only refer to sons-in-law and brothersin- law, then that – in the case in hand – the three men were Plutarch’s brothersin- law: very probably three brothers of Timoxena.
Aplicación del método Strong-LAMP para la detección molecular de Strongyloides stercoralis en una población de Porto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina.
Authors: Rodríguez Diego Carmen , Fernández-Soto Pedro , Muro Álvarez Antonio
Published: November 2020

Strongiloides stercoralis es un parásito nematodo de distribución global y el principal agente causal de la Estrongiloidiasis. La infección crónica presenta un curso asintomático, sin embargo, puede producir Síndrome de Hiperinfección en pacientes inmunodeprimidos. En la actualidad, la falta de un diagnóstico estandarizado genera una subestimación de la prevalencia de la enfermedad. El análisis coprológico, considerado como el gold-standard, presenta una muy baja sensibilidad. Una alternativa es el método LAMP específico y sensible para la detección de S.stercoralis, el Strong-LAMP. En el presente estudio, se ha utilizado un total de 100 muestras de heces recolectadas de una población de Porto Iguazú, Misiones (Argentina) y almacenadas en papel de filtro hasta su analisis. Cuando se aplicó el Strong-LAMP para la detección de ADN de Strongyloides spp., hasta 39 muestras (39%) resultaron positivas, incluyendo 5 positivas al análisis coprológico, frente a 7 muestras(7%) positivas obtenidas por análisis parasitológico. Por tanto, el Strong-LAMP ha demostrado ser un método más sensible para la detección de Strongyloides stercoralis en muestras de heces almacenadas en papel de filtro que los métodos de diagnóstico parasitológicos y podría utilizarse en combinación con los métodos parasitológicos en áreas endémicas para establecer con mayor fiabilidad la prevalencia real de la enfermedad.
Reformulasi Identitas Buddha Jawi Wisnu dan Sam Kaw Hwee Ke Dalam Buddhayana di Lampung Reformulating Identity of Buddha Jawi Wisnu and Sam Kaw Hwee Into Buddhayana in Lampung
Authors: Eko Putro Zaenal Abidin
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe formulation of a social group identity is strongly influenced by the historical context and institutional site in which reformulation of social identity occurred. As a result, the group has a common understanding and categories that unite them into sameness identity. It is what we have seen on the Sam Kaw Hwee Buddhist sect group as well as Buddha Jawi Wisnu sect group who in early New Order regime changed their identity into becoming Buddhayana Buddhist sect in Lampung. At a glance, the Majelis Buddhayana Indonesia (MBI, or Indonesian Buddhayana Council) was a meeting point of which Javanese and Chinese are encountered. Furthermore, MBI is regarded as a shared identity for most Buddhists in Lampung. This paper wants to explain the background and the process of reformulating new social identity, as well as the impacts around it.The paper is based on a qualitative research that tries to understand the early formation of Buddhayana sect as the largest Buddhist sect in Lampung. MBI was as a new social identity resulting from interaction and negotiation its followers with external group who threatened the Buddhist group in Lampung in the past.Abstrak Terbentuknya identitas suatu kelompok sosial sangat dipengaruhi konteks sejarah dan situasi tertentu yang menyebabkan munculnya kesamaan pemahaman dan kategori yang menyatukan kelompok tersebut. Demikian pula terhadap kelompok penganut sekte Buddha Sam Kaw Hwee dan Buddha Jawi Wisnu yang kemudian, karena kesamaan-kesamaan yang ada, membentuk identitas baru menjadi sekte Agama Buddha Buddhayana di Lampung di awal Orde Baru. Saat ini Majelis Buddhayana Indonesia (MBI) diterima secara meluas dalam melakukan pembinaan dan pengorganisasian umat Buddha di Lampung, yang terdiri dari etnis Jawa dan Tionghoa. MBI hadir sebagai identitas bersama dan wadah bagi sebagian besar umat Buddha di Lampung. Tulisan ini hendak menjelaskan latar belakang dan proses reformulasi identitas tersebut, serta dampak yang muncul di sekitar itu.  Tulisan hasil penelitian kualitatif ini menunjukkan bahwa Buddhayana sebagai aliran yang terbesar umat Buddha di Lampung, semakin kokoh sebagai identitas sosial yang dihasilkan dari interaksi dan negosiasi dengan pihak eksternal yang dilalui dengan cukup menegangkan pada masanya.
DEKONSTRUKSI MAKNA PELACUR DALAM ATAS NAMA MALAM KARYA SENO GUMIRA AJIDARMA
Authors: Manik Ricky Aptifive
Published: November 2020

Prostitutes often get a negative meaning, not only in their profession but also in their identity markers. This stigma has put them in a low hierarchy compared to other professions as their opposite meaning. This research aims to find out various binary oppositions related to prostitute, dominant logic, and meaning invention of prostitute  in a collection of short stories of Atas Nama Malam of Seno Gumira Ajidarma. The problem in this study is what is binary opposition, the dominant logic in the text and how the invention of the meaning of the prostitute after being deconstructed in SGAâ€™s short stories. This study used Derrida's deconstruction method with a comprehensive reading strategy in searching for binary oppositions of prostitute. Reconstruction of the text was also carried out to find the dominant logic contained in the text, including the interpretation of other assumptions to then be distorted from the hierarchical structure of the binary oppositions, that is finding the invention of meaning. This study found that there were seven binary oppositions of  prostitute, namely a man, morning/afternoon worker, doctor, teacher, official wife, murderer, and harmonious family shaper. The meaning of prostitute finds  its invention as the people who are responsible for her family, helper/hero, honest, and victim.
Modeling that predicts elementary particles and explains data about dark matter, early galaxies, and the cosmos
Authors: Buckholtz Thomas
Published: November 2020

We try to solve three decades-old physics challenges. List all elementary particles. Describe dark matter. Describe mechanisms that govern the rate of expansion of the universe. We propose new modeling. The modeling uses extensions to harmonic oscillator mathematics. The modeling points to all known elementary particles. The modeling suggests new particles. Based on those results, we do the following. We explain observed ratios of dark matter amounts to ordinary matter amounts. We suggest details about galaxy formation. We suggest details about inflation. We suggest aspects regarding changes in the rate of expansion of the universe. We interrelate the masses of some elementary particles. We interrelate the strengths of electromagnetism and gravity. Our work seems to offer new insight regarding applications of harmonic oscillator mathematics. Our work seems to offer new insight regarding three branches of physics. The branches are elementary particles, astrophysics, and cosmology.
Propuesta metodológica para completar series de tiempo mensuales de temperatura cuando no existen estaciones adyacentes
Authors: Bastidas Mejía Luis Bernardo , Vich Alberto Ismael Juan , Piccolo María Cintia
Published: November 2020

El uso de series temporales sin valores faltantes, resulta fundamental para la veracidad de los análisis científico-geográficos. Dado que en el caso de la temperatura (variable objeto de estudio), es posible encontrar vacíos de información en sitios con escasas estaciones meteorológicas, el objetivo de investigación fue desarrollar una metodología para completar series de tiempo mensuales, cuando no se dispone de estaciones meteorológicas adyacentes. El método planteado se vincula al uso de temperaturas anuales, medias mensuales y promedio seriales, de modo que su proporción permita calcular los datos carentes de información. Tomando como base una estación meteorológica localizada al centro-occidente árido argentino, la investigación se centró en cuatro fases vinculadas a la aplicación de la propuesta. Inicialmente, se aplicó la metodología planteada para calcular valores faltantes mensuales sobre la estación San Juan Aero, con N= 46 años. Adicionalmente, se comparó la propuesta con otras metodologías que utilizan estaciones adyacentes y su aplicación sobre otra estación fuera del área de estudio. Todo lo anterior fue verificado mediante nueve índices de precisión. Los resultados indican que la metodología propuesta presenta óptimos resultados en estaciones con N ≥ 30 años, 10 % de datos faltantes y con precisión superior a otras metodologías de naturaleza similar. Se utilizó el método propuesto en series de tiempo pertenecientes a estaciones fuera del área de estudio y los resultados mostraron una alta fiabilidad en el cálculo de datos faltantes. Por lo tanto, se recomienda su uso para completar series temporales de temperaturas mensuales en estaciones sin pares adyacentes.
Cooperativismo agropecuario en la posconvertibilidad. Prácticas asociativas y organización institucional de la Unión Agrícola de Avellaneda (2002-2013).
Authors: Venturini Santiago
Published: November 2020

El objetivo de este trabajo es describir y analizar las prácticas asociativas cooperativas en el agro argentino, a partir del nuevo patrón de crecimiento económico de posconvertibilidad. Desde los aportes de la teoría de la acción colectiva y los estudios del institucionalismo cooperativo, se procede al análisis de dichas prácticas a partir de un estudio de caso representativo del cooperativismo agropecuario argentino: la Unión Agrícola de Avellaneda Cooperativa Limitada, en el período 2002–2013. Nuestra hipótesis sostiene que la entidad promueve un modelo organizativo macrocooperativo, cuyas prácticas asociativas combinan la satisfacción de los intereses materiales comunes y la reproducción del capital social del grupo asociado, sin descuidar los intereses individuales de los productores para estimular la cooperación. Como resultado de la investigación se reconoce una continuidad en la composición de las prácticas asociativas cooperativas agropecuarias entre el régimen social de acumulación de convertibilidad y el nuevo patrón de crecimiento de posconvertibilidad.
Productores familiares capitalizados en un contexto de cambio agrario
Authors: Bendini Mónica , Preda Graciela , Steimbreger Norma
Published: November 2020

La expansión del capitalismo a fines del siglo pasado ha provocado profundas transformaciones en las estructuras y relaciones de producción en el agro. Se aceleró la penetración del capital concentrado en el control de recursos y se dinamizó la producción de materias primas y bienes de calidad para exportación afectando áreas de producción familiar con diferente grado de capitalización. La pregunta que orienta este trabajo es cómo se insertan económicamente los productores familiares capitalizados en la nueva organización social de la agricultura, cuáles son sus estrategias de persistencia y cómo se integran a los mecanismos de acumulación del capital. El desarrollo empírico aborda dos casos de estudio. Por un lado, un área de secano con reciente expansión agrícola y sustitución de actividades (norte de Córdoba); por otro, una zona de agricultura bajo riego con reconversión de una actividad tradicional (Alto Valle de Río Negro). La estrategia metodológica combina el análisis de datos secundarios con datos primarios provenientes de entrevistas en profundidad.
Use of Online Citation Tools by Students and Research Scholars of Department of Library and Information Science, University of Delhi
Authors: Madhusudan Margam
Published: November 2020

This paper finds out the citation management and the needs of students of Department of Libary and Information Science, University of Delhi, and how online citation tools fit into their academic and research process. The results indicate that all the respondents are aware of online citation tools and using them occasionally. EasyBib was the popular online citation tool among respondents. The survey results show that most of the respondents learned the online citation tools through department’s website. The main purpose of using online citation tools was for their academic/research work. Most of the respondents were accessing online citation tools from the Delhi University Computer Centre. They had not received any formal training for creating online citations. Simplified and easy bibliography and automatic creation of references list are two major benefits of online citation tools. The most obvious impediment is that they have never used the online tools before. Meagre respondents wanted training in using online citation tools for creating efficient references. The findings of the study will not only help the Library and Information Science students about knowing what a citation is and understanding the concepts of citation styles and formatting, but also help citation-related competencies and skills in recognising citations and understanding their functions in research.
Management of University Research Publication: A Case Study of JUIT Publication Database (JPubDB)
Authors: Ram Shri , Paliwal Nitin
Published: November 2020

Along with the teaching, publications and research output, national and international funding has become essential criterion for benchmarking and performance measurement of the university. To stand and compete with stakeholders, it is essential to carefully monitor the impact of university publication over global research. The role of the library becomes more important to take a lead in monitoring and management of the university publications. A library needs to gather, organize and maintain publication in a standard format and take appropriate measure to disseminate research with global community. Further, it is essential to assess the research impact of the publication through different methodologies such as bibliometrics or web metrics. The purpose of this paper is to develop a database of university publication with the acronym ‘JPubDB’ (JUIT Publication Database: available at http://juit.ac.in/jpubdb), in order to collect, analyze and organized at one place and market the research publication with global community. The provisions have been made to link each publication with each faculty profile and department in a standard citation style, assess the citation count through Google Scholar, sharing of publication through social networking tools, and if the full text of any publication is available, that can be downloadable in copyright free mode.
Effect of Shod Walking on Plantar Pressure with Varying Insole
Authors: Sandhu Kamlpreet , Srivastava Vineet , Pal Madhusudan
Published: November 2020

Walking and running are very critical factors in human being’s everyday life. A human being takes more than 2,000 steps to walk 1.6 km. The human being wear a boot with insole to protect feet when walking, playing and doing various activities. The boot with insole provides significant impact on the feet during these events and transmitted through the feet due to intense force and pressure. Measurements of plantar pressure are important for diagnosing lower limb disorders, designing footwear, injury prevention and applications in sports biomechanics. The objective of this study is to investigate the plantar pressure exerted on the feet during shod walking (wearing boot with three types of insoles); to identify effective insole for reducing plantar pressure during walking (wearing same boot with three insoles). Eighteen fits, healthy male adults volunteered for this study with mean and SD (mean±SD) age (36±9) years, height (169±4) cm, and weight (71±8) kg. During experiments, each volunteer underwent 5 min of treadmill walking (4.5 km/hr speed) with wearing of boot with varying types of insoles (Low-density polyurethane (LDPU) insole 1; High-density polyurethane (HDPU), insole 2; and Silicone rubber (SR), insole 3). Plantar pressures were measured by using a foot pressure measuring device. A paired t-test was conducted to observe significant changes in plantar pressures of different foot region (P<0.05). Observations of the present study revealed that plantar pressures (N/cm²*s) were minimum during the use of LDPU insole than HDPU and SR insoles. It was also noticed that during the using of LDPU insole, less plantar pressure observed in the heel (3.84 ±1.16 in right foot) followed by forefoot (right 3.92±0.88), lateral (right 3.56±0.85), and medial foot (right 3.60±0.69). Hence, the present study suggested that using LDPU insole reducing the transfer of impact forces to the body/foot in comparison to HDPU and SR insoles during walking and minimizing the risk of foot-related injuries in long term use.
Graduate student teacher voices: perception of and apprenticeship in multiliteracies-oriented teaching
Authors: Hashemi Tara
Published: November 2020

In Chapter 4, Tara Hashemi examines Graduate Student Teachers’ (GSTs’) perceptions of their professionalization in FL programs which have adopted a literacy-based approach to teaching French in the United States. Findings show that while some clear efforts are being made by language program directors to provide GSTs with a large panoply of tools, GSTs wish they had more opportunities for direct and personalized feedback on their teaching as well as more demonstrations of concrete lessons in which the concepts of the literacy-based framework are instantiated. It cannot be expected that GSTs will understand and apply complex notions of the multiliteracies framework and multiliteracies pedagogy without relevant, adapted, and ongoing professional development.
Novel Digital Gait Kinematic Solution to Improve Frailty
Authors: Rodgers Geraldine , Mottley Anne , Hodgins Diana
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Frailty effects a person’s health and correlates with mobility and falls.  Intervention studies that focus on exercise have demonstrated improved mobility and functional ability in some frailty groups.  This study tested a personalised intervention programme automatically generated from digital gait data on frail older people under the care of the North East London Foundation Trust, Community Hospital setting.

Methods: One hundred and twenty one people, average age 79, who suffered an injurious fall and were under the care of the Community Hospital, completed the personalised intervention programme.  Objective gait kinematic data, obtained using GaitSmartTM automatically generated a personalised exercise programme. Each participant received four tests, approximately 3 weeks apart and was provided with a copy of their report plus personalised exercises. Frailty was measured using the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS), fear of falling was measured using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and speed was determined from the gait data (GS). 

Results: Five parameters were analysed for all 121 participants at the start and end of the intervention: EFS; FES-I; GS; speed; walking aid. There was a statistically significance between the start and end (p<0.001) for all the parameters.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that addressing frailty using a digital gait solution that sets exercises based on the gait kinematic data, did reverse frailty.   This four session programme has shown to improve frailty levels and fear of falling.  It also reduced the reliance on walking aids and increased average walking speed from 0.46 to 0.62 m/s.
Automatic EEG-based Alertness Classification using Sparse Representation and Dictionary Learning
Authors: Hadra Mohammad , Abdelrahman Iman
Published: November 2020

Automation of human alertness identification has been widely investigated in recent decades. Many applications can benefit from automatic alertness state identification, such as driver fatigue detection, monotonous task workers' vigilance detection and sleep studies in the medical field.  Many researchers have tried to exploit different types of behavioural aspects in vigilance detection, such as eye movement, head position and facial expression. On the other hand, some biomedical signals like ECG, EEG and heart rhythm are also exploited; however,  there is a consensus of the superiority of EEG signal in alertness classification due to its close relation with different human vigilant states. In this paper, we propose an automatic method for vigilance detection using a single EEG channel along with sparse representation and dictionary learning. We used Discrete Wavelet Packet Transform to extract the features related to different human vigilance states. We use well-known other classifiers to compare the performance of our proposed method. Results of classification with sparse representation and dictionary learning produced better accuracy results than the other methods.
Exploring the Identities of Greek Migrant Young Adults Through Their New Media Use: Combining Public Pedagogy, Participatory Narrative Inquiry, A/r/tography and Heteroglossia
Authors: Mallos Melina
Published: November 2020

In the 21st century, transnational migration is increasingly commonplace alongside the proliferation of new media. Adolescent migrants are especially well versed in new media, and their interactions allow insights into identity representation and negotiation. We know from current research that a sense of self is likely to be affected and interrupted when migrating to a new country, but we do not know the ways young people with transnational identities, negotiate, shape and are shaped by new media. Using a Participatory Narrative Inquiry approach and arts-based research methods, this research will explore how Greek migrant youths living in Melbourne use new media to communicate and describe their identity. In sharing deeply personal narratives, what do the participants learn about new media’s role in their identity formation?
Effect of heat treatment or alkali treatment of veneers on the mechanical properties of eucalyptus veneer/polyethylene film plywood composites
Authors: Song Wei , Wei Wenbang , Ren Congrong , Zhang Shuangbao
Published: November 2020

New plywood composites for furniture and interior decoration were developed with eucalyptus veneers using polyethylene films as formaldehyde-free adhesives. To enhance the interfacial adhesion, the veneers were modified with an oven treatment (temperature: 100, 120, 140, and 160 °C; time: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 h) or by soaking in a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution (concentration: 3%, 7%, and 11%; time: 12, 24, and 36 h). The effects of these treatments on the mechanical properties (flexural strength, MOR; flexural modulus, MOE; wet shear strength, WSS) of the composites were studied. Both treatments improved the three properties of the composites. The heat treatment was better at improving the shear property, while the alkali treatment was better at improving the flexural properties. For the heat treatment, the highest WSS was 81.1% higher than the untreated group. The optimum conditions for the heat treatment were 140 °C and 1.0 h. For the alkali treatment, the highest MOR and MOE were 267.5% and 173.7% higher than the untreated group, respectively. The optimum conditions for the alkali treatment were 3% and 36 h. The changes to the veneer surfaces were determined by scanning electron microscopy.
Optimized expression of a hyperthermostable endoglucanase from Pyrococcus horikoshii in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Li Xia , Geng Xiaoyan , Gao Lu , Wu Yanfang , Wang Yongli , Geng Alei , Sun Jianzhong , Jiang Jianxiong
Published: November 2020

Manufacturing microbial cellulase in plants is an attractive strategy for the cost-effective production of cellulosic ethanol, especially the expression of thermostable cellulase, which causes no negative effects on plant growth and development. The beta-1,4-endogenous cellulase from Pyrococcus horikoshii (EGPh) is considered one of the most promising glycosyl hydrolase in the biofuel and textile industry for its hyperthermostability and its capability to hydrolyze crystalline celluloses, which has been researched extensively during recent years. In this study, the coding sequence of EGPh was expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana under the control of a CaMV35S promoter after codon optimization, with the addition of a eukaryotic Kozak sequence. The expression of EGPh caused no deleterious effects to the growth and development of transgenic A. thaliana. The heterologous EGPh showed relatively high activities, up to 111.69 and 13.35 U.mg-1 total soluble protein against soluble cellulose carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and insoluble microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel), respectively. The subcellular localization analysis showed that the EGPh protein was targeted to the plasma membrane and cell wall. Based on these results, it is proposed that EGPh is an ideal candidate for the commercial production of hyperthermostable endoglucanase using plants as biofactories.
Correlation between persistent free radicals of biochar and bio-oil yield at different pyrolysis temperatures
Authors: Jiang Mei , Bi Dongmei , Huang Fupeng , Wang Jiqiang , Li Bozheng
Published: November 2020

Biomass pyrolysis technology has important developmental prospects for biofuels and chemicals. Biochar as one of main pyrolysis products has excellent performance in soil improvement and adsorption of harmful elements. The environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) in corn stalk powder and biochar obtained by pyrolysis at different temperatures were tested by electronic paramagnetic resonance spectrometry. After pyrolysis treatment, the biochar had a large number of stable free radicals. With increased pyrolysis temperature, the peak width of the free radicals signal in biochar decreased remarkably, and the widest peak of free radicals signal in biochar was presented at 450 °C, which was 0.69×10-4 T. The g-factor of free radicals in biochar decreased continuously as the temperature increased, while the peak height of free radicals first increased and then decreased. The peak height at 600 °C was only 23.8% of the peak height at 500 °C. The concentration of EPFRs in biochar increased with the increase of temperature from 450 °C to 500 °C, while it decreased at higher temperature (>500 °C). This phenomenon was similar to the trend of bio-oil collection efficiency. The experimental results showed a correlation between EPFRs of biochar and bio-oil yield at different pyrolysis temperatures.
Utilization of computer simulation for optimization of furniture production system
Authors: Bambura Roman , Sujová Erika , Čierna Helena
Published: November 2020

Computer simulation methods are currently used to simulate production processes and optimize production systems. Computer simulation is one of the most effective tools for implementation of Industry 4.0 principles in industrial practice. This research focused on the optimization of production processes in furniture production using simulation, which is an innovative method of production optimization for furniture manufacturers. The aim of this research was to improve the production system of Slovak furniture manufacturing enterprise by creating a discrete event simulation model of production based on the analysis of its current state. Improvement indicators are specific parameters of the production system, which primarily include material flow, productivity, and workload utilization. First, with the use of Tecnomatix Plant Simulation software and the collected real production data, the original production system processes were simulated and analyzed. Second, the incorporation of more powerful devices was proposed to improve the production line. Third, the proposed improvements were simulated and analyzed. The result of this research was a statistical comparison of the parameters of the current production line and the proposed production improvements.
Media selection for mycelia growth, antifungal activity against wood-degrading fungi, and GC-MS study by Pycnoporus sanguineus
Authors: Teoh Yi P. , Don Mashitah M. , Ujang Salmiah
Published: November 2020

Wood-decaying fungi present a serious threat to items made from rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis). Though conventional chemical control has been a successful method for preserving wood against stain and decay fungi growth, the effects of these chemicals are of concern because they create problems for the environment and public health. Pycnoporus sanguineus (P. sanguineus), is a white-rot fungus that invades wood during its growth, storage, or use, causing decay or other property changes. It was considered in this work as a potential source of bioactive compounds and investigated for its natural antifungal activity using a minimum inhibitory concentration assay against wood-degrading fungi. It was found that media consisting of 10.0 g/L malt extract, yeast extract, dextrose, and maltose, respectively at pH 4.7±0.2 provided the highest biomass production by P. sanguineus. Results showed that the antifungal properties of methanol and water extract of P. sanguineus mycelia and supernatant ranged from MIC values of 0.1 to 5.0 µg/µL. 4H-Pyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl- (DDMP) was found to be the major component in the extract of this fungus, based on analysis using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry.