bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Streptomyces scabies Causing Potato Scab by Various Detection Techniques, Its Pathogenicity and Determination of Host-Disease Resistance in Potato Germplasm
Authors: Ismail Sohaib , Jiang Bo , Nasimi Zohreh , Inam-ul-Haq M. , Yamamoto Naoki , Danso Ofori Andrews , Khan Nawab , Arshad Muhammad , Abbas Kumail , Zheng Aiping
Published: September 2020

Streptomyces scabies is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that causes common scab disease to several crops, particularly in the potato. It is a soil borne pathogen, a very devastating scab pathogen and difficult to manage in the field. Streptomyces has several species that cause common scab such as S. scabiei, S. acidiscabies, S. europaeiscabiei, S. luridiscabiei, S. niveiscabiei, S. puniciscabiei, S. reticuliscabiei, S. stelliscabiei, S. turgidiscabies, S. ipomoeae. Common scab disease harmfully affects potato economic and market value due to the presence of black spots on the tuber. Owing to its genetic diversity and pathogenicity, the determination of pathogen presence in potato fields is still challenging. In this study, S. scabies genetic diversity was measured by surveying five potato-growing areas of Pakistan during the growing season 2019. A total of 50 Streptomyces isolates, including S. scabies, S. acidiscabies, S. griseoflavus were isolated and identified based on morphologic, biochemical and molecular analysis. Virulent confirmation assays confirmed ten virulent strains of Streptomyces spp. On the potato cultivars Cardinal and Santee. Among the Streptomyces species, S. scabies showed the highest scab index, followed by S. acidiscabies and S. griseoflavus by exhibiting the scab-like lesions on potato tubers. Ten potato cultivars were screened against these virulent isolates of Streptomyces. The Faisalabad white variety showed the highest scab index followed By Cardinal, Tourag, Kuroda, Santee, Lady Rosetta, Asterix, Diamant, Faisalabad red and Sadaf. Moreover, genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Streptomyces spp. on potato tubers were also likely diverse in different geographical regions and also potato cultivars. This study represents a contribution to understanding the local interaction between potatoes and Streptomyces spp. in Pakistan. It will aid in supporting a solution for the management of this pathogen around the world.
Physiological Approach to the Use of the Natural Compound Quinate in the Control of Sensitive and Resistant Papaver rhoeas
Authors: Zabalza Ana , Zulet-González Ainhoa , Barco-Antoñanzas Maria , Eceiza Mikel V. , Gil-Monreal Miriam , Royuela Mercedes
Published: September 2020

Quinate (1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylate) is a compound synthesized in plants through a side-branch of the shikimate biosynthesis pathway, which is accumulated after glyphosate and acetolactate synthase inhibiting herbicides (ALS-inhibitors) and has phytotoxic potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxicity of quinate on several weed species. Among the species evaluated, Cynodon dactylon, Bromus diandrus, Lolium rigidum, Sinapis alba, and Papaver rhoeas, P. rhoeas was the most sensitive, and its growth was controlled with quinate concentrations above 100 mM at the phenological stage of 6–8 true leaves. A physiological study, including the shikimate pathway and the physiological markers of ALS-inhibitors (carbohydrates and amino acids), was performed in the sensitive and resistant plants treated with sulfonylureas or quinate. The typical physiological effects of ALS-inhibitors were detected in the sensitive population (free amino acid and carbohydrate accumulation) and not detected in the resistant population. The mode of action of quinate appeared to be related to general perturbations in their carbon/nitrogen metabolism rather than to specific changes in the shikimate pathway. These results suggest the possibility of using quinate in the weed control management of P. rhoeas.
Potassium Efflux and Cytosol Acidification as Primary Anoxia-Induced Events in Wheat and Rice Seedlings
Authors: Yemelyanov Vladislav V. , Chirkova Tamara V. , Shishova Maria F. , Lindberg Sylvia M.
Published: September 2020

Both ion fluxes and changes of cytosolic pH take an active part in the signal transduction of different environmental stimuli. Here we studied the anoxia-induced alteration of cytosolic K+ concentration, [K+]cyt, and cytosolic pH, pHcyt, in rice and wheat, plants with different tolerances to hypoxia. The [K+]cyt and pHcyt were measured by fluorescence microscopy in single leaf mesophyll protoplasts loaded with the fluorescent potassium-binding dye PBFI-AM and the pH-sensitive probe BCECF-AM, respectively. Anoxic treatment caused an efflux of K+ from protoplasts of both plants after a lag-period of 300–450 s. The [K+]cyt decrease was blocked by tetraethylammonium (1 mM, 30 min pre-treatment) suggesting the involvement of plasma membrane voltage-gated K+ channels. The protoplasts of rice (a hypoxia-tolerant plant) reacted upon anoxia with a higher amplitude of the [K+]cyt drop. There was a simultaneous anoxia-dependent cytosolic acidification of protoplasts of both plants. The decrease of pHcyt was slower in wheat (a hypoxia-sensitive plant) while in rice protoplasts it was rapid and partially reversible. Ion fluxes between the roots of intact seedlings and nutrient solutions were monitored by ion-selective electrodes and revealed significant anoxia-induced acidification and potassium leakage that were inhibited by tetraethylammonium. The K+ efflux from rice was more distinct and reversible upon reoxygenation when compared with wheat seedlings.
Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing of Wood and Lignocellulosic Filled Composites
Authors: Lamm Meghan E. , Wang Lu , Kishore Vidya , Tekinalp Halil , Kunc Vlastimil , Wang Jinwu , Gardner Douglas J. , Ozcan Soydan
Published: September 2020

Wood and lignocellulosic-based material components are explored in this review as functional additives and reinforcements in composites for extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing. The motivation for using these sustainable alternatives in 3D printing includes enhancing material properties of the resulting printed parts, while providing a green alternative to carbon or glass filled polymer matrices, all at reduced material costs. Previous review articles on this topic have focused only on introducing the use of natural fillers with material extrusion AM and discussion of their subsequent material properties. This review not only discusses the present state of materials extrusion AM using natural filler-based composites but will also fill in the knowledge gap regarding state-of-the-art applications of these materials. Emphasis will also be placed on addressing the challenges associated with 3D printing using these materials, including use with large-scale manufacturing, while providing insight to overcome these issues in the future.
pH Tunable Thin Film Gradients of Magnetic Polymer Colloids for MRI Diagnostics
Authors: Khizar Sumera , Ahmad Nasir M.
Published: September 2020

Magnetic polymer colloids comprising of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and Eudragit E100 were employed to fabricate thin film gradients and were investigated for in-vitro magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic polymer colloids (MPC) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) with stimuli-responsive cationic and anionic functional groups respectively facilitate the formation of thin film gradients via layer by layer technique. The characteristics of films were controlled by changing the pH and level of the adsorbing solutions that lead to the development of gradient films having 5.5, 10.5 and 15.5 bilayers. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and magnetic force microscopy was carried out to determine the surface coverage of films. Surface wettability demonstrated the hydrophilicity of adsorbed colloids. The developed thin-film gradients were explored for in vitro magnetic resonance imaging that offers a point of care lab-on-chip as a dip-stick approach for ultrasensitive in-vitro molecular diagnosis of biological fluids.
Electrospun Composites Made of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Polyacrylonitrile-Based Activated Carbon Nanofibers (rGO/ACNF) for Enhanced CO2 Adsorption
Authors: Che Othman Faten Ermala , Yusof Norhaniza , González-Benito Javier , Fan Xiaolei , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi
Published: September 2020

In this work, we report the preparation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based activated carbon nanofibers composited with different concentrations of reduced graphene oxide (rGO/ACNF) (1%, 5%, and 10% relative to PAN weight) by a simple electrospinning method. The electrospun nanofibers (NFs) were carbonized and physically activated to obtain activated carbon nanofibers (ACNFs). Texture, surface and elemental properties of the pristine ACNFs and composites were characterized using various techniques. In comparison to pristine ACNF, the incorporation of rGO led to changes in surface and textural characteristics such as specific surface area (SBET), total pore volume (Vtotal), and micropore volume (Vmicro) of 373 m2/g, 0.22 cm3/g, and 0.15 cm3/g, respectively, which is much higher than the pristine ACNFs (e.g., SBET = 139 m2/g). The structural and morphological properties of the pristine ACNFs and their composites were studied by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) respectively. Carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption on the pristine ACNFs and rGO/ACNF composites was evaluated at different pressures (5, 10, and 15 bars) based on static volumetric adsorption. At 15 bar, the composite with 10% of rGO (rGO/ACNF0.1) that had the highest SBET, Vtotal, and Vmicro, as confirmed with BET model, exhibited the highest CO2 uptake of 58 mmol/g. These results point out that both surface and texture have a strong influence on the performance of CO2 adsorption. Interestingly, at p < 10 bar, the adsorption process of CO2 was found to be quite well fitted by pseudo-second order model (i.e., the chemisorption), whilst at 15 bar, physisorption prevailed, which was explained by the pseudo-first order model.
Novel Conjugated Polymers Containing 3-(2-Octyldodecyl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene as a π-Bridge for Organic Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Ha Jong-Woon , Park Jong Baek , Park Hea Jung , Hwang Do-Hoon
Published: September 2020

3-(2-Octyldodecyl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophen was successfully synthesized as a new π-bridge with a long branched side alkyl chain. Two donor-π-bridge-acceptor type copolymers were designed and synthesized by combining this π-bridge structure, a fluorinated benzothiadiazole acceptor unit, and a thiophene or thienothiophene donor unit, (PT-ODTTBT or PTT-ODTTBT respectively) through Stille polymerization. Inverted OPV devices with a structure of ITO/ZnO/polymer:PC71BM/MoO3/Ag were fabricated by spin-coating in ambient atmosphere or N2 within a glovebox to evaluate the photovoltaic performance of the synthesized polymers (effective active area: 0.09 cm2). The PTT-ODTTBT:PC71BM-based structure exhibited the highest organic photovoltaic (OPV) device performance, with a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.05 (6.88 ± 0.12)%, a high short-circuit current (Jsc) of 13.96 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (FF) of 66.94 (66.47 ± 0.63)%; whereas the PT-ODTTBT:PC71BM-based device achieved overall lower device performance. According to GIWAXS analysis, both neat and blend films of PTT-ODTTBT exhibited well-organized lamellar stacking, leading to a higher charge carrier mobility than that of PT-ODTTBT. Compared to PT-ODTTBT containing a thiophene donor unit, PTT-ODTTBT containing a thienothiophene donor unit exhibited higher crystallinity, preferential face-on orientation, and a bicontinuous interpenetrating network in the film, which are responsible for the improved OPV performance in terms of high Jsc, FF, and PCE.
Coupling of Water Activity and Colour Development of Roast Duck Skin under Forced Convection Drying
Authors: Peng Yingbo , Guo Xiuyun , Ahmed Jamali Muneer , Zhang Yawei
Published: September 2020

Roasting meat involves simultaneous heat and mass transfer, colour and flavour development and the formation of hazardous chemicals. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of temperature and time on colour, 3,4-benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) in roast duck skin during forced hot-air drying at less than 130 °C. The results showed that surface and internal temperatures of duck carcasses increased with drying time, rising to 111.9 and 83.7 °C, respectively. The curves of water activity (aw) and red index (a*) intersected at 50 min because of the decrease in aw and the increase in a* on the skin with drying time. The drastic decline in aw promoted colour development on the duck surface. BaP and carcinogenic HCAs were not detected in hot-air drying ducks, convincing us that the mild cooking method under forced hot-air drying could effectively reduce or eliminate the risk of certain human cancers.
On the Production of Potassium Carbonate from Cocoa Pod Husks
Authors: Kone Kouwelton , Akueson Karl , Norval Graeme
Published: September 2020

Cocoa beans are found inside an outer husk; 60% of the cocoa fruit is the outer husk, which is a waste biomass. The husk cannot be used directly as a soil amendment as it promotes the fungal black pod disease, which reduces crop yield. The pods are segregated from the trees, and their plant nutrient value is wasted. This is particularly true for the small acreage farmers in West Africa. Cocoa pod husk is well suited to be used as a biomass source for electricity production. The waste ash is rich in potassium, which can be converted in various chemical products, most notably, high-purity potassium carbonate. This study reviews the information known about cocoa and cocoa pod husk, and considers the socio-economic implications of creating a local economy based on collecting the cocoa pod husk for electricity production, coupled with the processing of the waste ash into various products. The study demonstrates that the concept is feasible, and also identifies the local conditions required to create this sustainable economic process.
Shallow Water Bathymetry Based on Inherent Optical Properties Using High Spatial Resolution Multispectral Imagery
Authors: Zhang Xuechun , Ma Yi , Zhang Jingyu
Published: September 2020

Bathymetric surveys are of great importance for submarine topography mapping and coastal construction projects. They are also of great significance for terrain surveys of islands and coastal zones, maritime navigation and marine management planning. Traditional ship-borne water depth measurement methods are costly and time-consuming, therefore, in recent years, passive optical remote sensing technology has become an important means for shallow water depth measurements. In addition, multispectral water depth optical remote sensing has wide application values. Considering the relationship between water depth and the inherent optical characteristics of water column, an inherent optical parameters linear model (IOPLM) is developed to estimate shallow water bathymetry from high spatial resolution multispectral images. Experiments were carried out in the shallow waters (≤20 m) around Dongdao Island in China’s Paracel Islands and Saipan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands. Different accuracy evaluation indexes were used to verify the model. The comparisons with the traditional log-linear model and the Stumpf model show that in terms of overall accuracy and accuracy in different water depths, the IOPLM has slightly better results and stronger retrieval capabilities than the other models. The mean absolute error (MAE) of Dongdao Island and Saipan Island reached 1.17 m and 1.92 m, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was 1.49 m and 2.4 m, respectively.
Numerical Simulation of Optical Sensing by the Far Field Pattern Radiated by Periodic Grating Strips Over Silica Buffer on the Silicon Wire Waveguide
Authors: Tsarev Andrei , Passaro Vittorio M. N.
Published: September 2020

This paper presents results of numerical modeling of a modified design of an optical sensor based on segmented periodic silicon oxynitride (SiON) grating evanescently coupled with silicon wire. This segmented grating works as a leaky waveguide, which filters input power from a broadband optical source and radiates it as an outcoming optical beam with both a small wavelength band and a small beam divergence. The radiation angle strongly depends on the refractive index of the grating environment and provides sensor interrogation by measuring the far field pattern in the focal plane of the lens, which is placed near the sensor element. The device concept was verified by direct numerical modeling through the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and provided moderate intrinsic limit of detection (iLOD) ~ 0.004 RIU with a possible iLOD ~ 0.001 RIU for 10 mm-long structures.
A Novel Piecewise Frequency Control Strategy Based on Fractional-Order Filter for Coordinating Vibration Isolation and Positioning of Supporting System
Authors: Tao Yeying , Jiang Wei , Han Bin , Li Xiaoqing , Luo Ying , Zeng Lizhan
Published: September 2020

A piecewise frequency control (PFC) strategy is proposed in this paper for coordinating vibration isolation and positioning of supporting systems under complex disturbance conditions, such as direct and external disturbances. This control strategy is applied in an active-passive parallel supporting system, where relative positioning feedback for positioning and absolute velocity feedback for active vibration isolation. The analysis of vibration and deformation transmissibility shows that vibration control increases low-frequency position error while positioning control amplifies high-frequency vibration amplitude. To overcome this contradiction across the whole control bandwidth, a pair of Fractional-Order Filters (FOFs) is adopted in the PFC system, which increases the flexibility in the PFC design by introducing fraction orders. The system stability analysis indicates that the FOFs can provide a better stability margin than the Integral-Order Filters (IOFs), so the control gains are increased to get a better performance on the AVI and positioning. The PFC based on FOFs can suppress the peak amplitude at the natural frequency which cannot be avoided when using the IOFs. The constrained nonlinear multivariable function is formed by the required performance and the stability of the system, then the controller parameters are optimized effectively. Lastly, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by experiments.
Detecting Defects on Solid Wood Panels Based on an Improved SSD Algorithm
Authors: Ding Fenglong , Zhuang Zilong , Liu Ying , Jiang Dong , Yan Xiaoan , Wang Zhengguang
Published: September 2020

Wood is widely used in construction, the home, and art applications all over the world because of its good mechanical properties and aesthetic value. However, because the growth and preservation of wood are greatly affected by the environment, it often contains different types of defects that affect its performance and ornamental value. To solve the issues of high labor costs and low efficiency in the detection of wood defects, we used machine vision and deep learning methods in this work. A color charge-coupled device camera was used to collect the surface images of two types of wood from Akagi and Pinus sylvestris trees. A total of 500 images with a size of 200 × 200 pixels containing wood knots, dead knots, and checking defects were obtained. The transfer learning method was used to apply the single-shot multibox detector (SSD), a target detection algorithm and the DenseNet network was introduced to improve the algorithm. The mean average precision for detecting the three types of defects, live knots, dead knots and checking was 96.1%.
Effect of an Inflatable Air Mattress with Variable Rigidity on Sleep Quality
Authors: Yu Hyunsoo , Shin Oh-Soon , Kim Sayup , Park Cheolsoo
Published: September 2020

Several studies, wherein the structure or rigidity of a mattress was varied, have been conducted to improve sleep quality. These studies investigated the effect of variation in the surface characteristics of mattresses on sleep quality. The present study developed a mattress whose rigidity can be varied by controlling the amount of air in its air cells. To investigate the effect of the variable rigidity of the air mattress on sleep quality, participants (Male, Age: 23.9 ± 2.74, BMI: 23.3 ± 1.60) were instructed to sleep on the air mattress under different conditions, and their sleep quality was subjectively and objectively investigated. Subjectively, sleep quality is assessed based on the participants’ evaluations of the depth and length of their sleep. Objectively, sleep is estimated using the sleep stage information obtained by analysing the movements and brain waves of the participants during their sleep. A subjective assessment of the sleep quality demonstrates that the participants’ sleep was worse with the adjustment of the air mattress than that without; however, the objective sleep quality results demonstrates an improvement in the sleep quality when the rigidity of the air mattress is varied based on the participant’s preference. This paper proposes a design for mattresses that can result in more efficient sleep than that provided by traditional mattresses.
Interrelations between After-School Settings and the Delinquency and Emotional-Behavioral Problems of Elementary School Children: Findings from Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study
Authors: Park Hyejoon , Guo Siying , Choi Shinwoo , Noh Keeyoon
Published: September 2020

Even though there are different types of after-school settings, numerous studies have focused on formal after-school settings (i.e., after-school programs or ASPs) and their association with children’s academic, physical, and social-emotional behaviors. The few findings from informal settings are also outdated. To bridge this gap, our study aimed to locate the interrelations between after-school settings and the behavioral outcomes of children with a particular emphasis on children’s delinquency and emotional-behavioral problems. We used the U.S. national dataset, fifth wave of Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (nine-year follow-up), with the binary logistic and ordinary least square regression analyses. With a sample size of 3320, we found that children in parental care were reported to commit less delinquency than children in ASPs. Also, children in non-adult care were reported to have more emotional-behavioral problems than children in ASPs. Educators, school social workers, and policymakers should consider the impact of ASPs on children whose parents are not able to spend significant amounts of time with them. In particular, public assistance should be utilized in such a way that helps parents to achieve their children’s positive behavioral outcomes. At the same time, government and community assistance should be provided to enhance the quality of ASPs for the positive results of emotional-behavioral problems of elementary school students.
Temporal Variability of Tropospheric Ozone Pollution in the Agricultural Region of Central-Eastern Poland
Authors: Skowera Barbara , Zuśka Zbigniew , Baranowska Alicja
Published: September 2020

The aim of the study was to assess the temporal variability of tropospheric ozone pollution. The research was carried out for the agricultural region of central-eastern Poland, an area covering the Lublin Voivodeship. One-hour averages of automatic measurements of tropospheric ozone concentration in 2015–2017 were used for the study. The data were obtained from three measuring stations belonging to the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Poland. The stations were located as part of the Air Quality Monitoring System in rural communes in the north-western, central and southern parts of the Lublin Voivodeship. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the tropospheric ozone concentrations were significantly dependent on weather conditions during the years of the study. At each monitoring station, the one-hour average O3 concentrations showed a clear structure over the course of the day: they were higher in the late morning and early afternoon than in the early morning and at night. The highest O3 concentrations were observed at the Florianka measurement station, located in Roztocze National Park. This area had high forest cover and was located at the highest elevation above sea level of the three measuring stations. In the light of climate change and increasing O3 concentrations, further scientific research on atmospheric air pollution is crucial, especially in agricultural areas associated with food production.
Analysis of Reliability and Generalizability of One Instrument for Assessing Visual Attention Span: MenPas Mondrian Color
Authors: Reigal Rafael E. , González-Guirval Fernando , Pastrana-Brincones José L. , González-Ruiz Sergio , Hernández-Mendo Antonio , Morales-Sánchez Verónica
Published: September 2020

Attention is one skill related to processes such as memory or learning, so, its evaluation is very interesting in areas such as clinical, educational or sports. The aim of this paper is to analyze the reliability and generalizability of one online computerized tool, named MenPas Mondrian Color, that has been developed for the visual attention span assessing and training. In addition, it has been intended to determine any existing relationships among the different parameters of the tasks performed in order to check the coherence of the results obtained in the executions. In 11,540 analyzed executions of 1064 users from different American, African and European countries, 6543 of them were performed by women (56.70%) and 4997 by men (43.30%). The age distribution showed that all of the participants were aged 18–55 years, with an average of 25.50 ± 8.91 years. The analyzed tool is called MenPas Mondrian Color which is included in the MENPAS 1.0 platform. Reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha), variance components and generalizability analyses were carried out in order to analyze the quality of the data gathered by this tool. The obtained results indicated optimal scores in the analyses performed, suggesting that the data gathered are reliable, precise and statistically generalizable to a larger population. Likewise, correlation analyses indicated that the difficulty of the task is related to the effectiveness in its executions, indicating that this is a highly sensitive tool.
Market Efficiency under the Arrangement of Transaction Rules of the RCCL Market from the Supply-Side Perspective
Authors: Deng Meie , Zhang Anlu
Published: September 2020

This paper analyzes market efficiency under the formal transaction rules of the rural collective construction land (RCCL) market in Nanhai District. These transaction rules are not perfect, market uncertainty is strong, and transaction costs remain high. Transaction rules are an important means by which the government can intervene in the market, protect farmers’ land-use and income rights, and make the market more open, equitable, and just. Using a field survey (260 questionnaires) in Nanhai District, Guangdong Province, China, we estimated the impact of the openness, equity, and justice of transaction rules on the transaction costs of the RCCL market. Tobit models were constructed, and the results showed the following: (1) The overall level of market efficiency of the RCCL in Nanhai District is low. In different regions, the highest market efficiency is in Guicheng Street and the lowest is in Xiqiao Town. However, after excluding the influence of environmental and random factors, the overall level of market efficiency decreased, while the market efficiency of Lishui and Xiqiao Town increased. (2) The influencing factors of RCCL market efficiency under the arrangement of transaction rules are mainly related to the disclosure of information in the openness dimension, income distribution and supervision in the fairness dimension, and land-price formation in the fairness dimension. Therefore, we suggest that the lower the transaction cost of an RCCL market, the more active the market will be. It is very important to improve the transaction rules of the RCCL market, reduce the transaction cost, and improve the market efficiency. The transaction rules of the RCCL market should be further improved in the three dimensions of openness, equity, and justice. Our work provides insight into the improvement of market efficiency, which contributes to the development of the RCCL markets in other areas of China and worldwide.
Launch of Sustainable Plastic Apparel: Effects of Brand Luxury and Experience on Consumer Behaviour
Authors: Kumagai Ken , Nagasawa Shin’ya
Published: September 2020

Since plastic waste is a serious social issue, fashion companies are attempting to develop sustainable apparel made from post-consumer plastic bottles. This social issue is relevant to every company regardless of the level of brand luxury. However, previous literature has not examined the effect of this sustainable product type on consumer behaviour, whereas comprehensive sustainable development is widely discussed in luxury branding research. Consequently, this study investigates how the launch of sustainable plastic apparel affects consumer brand attitude and purchase intention. According to the 440 samples collected via an online survey in Japan, moderated mediation analyses reveal that the launch of sustainable plastic apparel positively affects brand attitude contributing to purchase intention indirectly, while it also contributes to purchase intention directly. In addition, brand luxury and brand experience are found to weaken the effect of this sustainable product launch, whereas the influence of sustainable product experience is insignificant. To launch this type of sustainable apparel effectively, luxury companies are advised to redesign their current marketing to promote sustainable products more effectively and adjust their branding tactics to align with sustainability. Otherwise, their brand luxury may lead to a disadvantage, since plastic recycling is increasingly becoming a social requirement.
The Measurement of Social Cohesion at Province Level in Poland Using Metric and Interval-Valued Data
Authors: Walesiak Marek , Dehnel Grażyna
Published: September 2020

The notion of social cohesion is increasingly used in the political, economic and academic debate. Due to its multidimensional, the assessment of social cohesion is not easy, especially if it is conducted at a lower than national level of aggregation. The aim of the study is to assess social cohesion in provinces of Poland in 2018 using the hybrid approach involving multidimensional scaling and linear ordering based on an aggregate measure. This type of study is usually conducted using classic metric data. However, the traditional approach does not account for the variation between lower level units (i.e., districts). The authors propose a methodology which makes this possible. Additionally the results of assessment of the multidimensional phenomenon can be presented in a two-dimensional space. Classic metric data and symbolic interval-valued data (three data types: min-max, 1st decile and 9th decile, 2nd decile and 8th decile) are jointly represented in a single diagram. The consistency of the research method ensures comparability of results of linear ordering. Two criteria were used in the comparative analysis of four rankings of social cohesion. The results of the study clearly showed that the current level of social cohesion at the provinces level is geographically and historically dependent.
An Extensive Analysis of Biodiesel Blend Combustion Characteristics under a Wide-Range of Thermal Conditions of a Cooperative Fuel Research Engine
Authors: Nguyen Vu H. , Duong Minh Q. , Nguyen Kien T. , Pham Thin V. , Pham Phuong X.
Published: September 2020

Examining the influence of thermal conditions in the engine cylinder at the start of fuel injection on engine combustion characteristics is critically important. This may help to understand physical and chemical processes occurring in engine cycles and this is relevant to both fossil fuels and alternative fuels like biodiesels. In this study, six different biodiesel–diesel blends (B0, B10, B20, B40, B60 and B100 representing 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 100% by volume of biodiesel in the diesel–biodiesel mixtures, respectively) have been successfully tested in a cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine operating under a wide range of thermal conditions at the start of fuel injection. This is a standard cetane testing CFR-F5 engine, a special tool for fuel research. In this study, it was further retrofitted to investigate combustion characteristics along with standard cetane measurements for those biodiesel blends. The novel biodiesel has been produced from residues taken from a palm cooking oil manufacturing process. It is found that the cetane number of B100 is almost 30% higher than that of B0 and this could be attributed to the oxygen content in the biofuel. Under similar thermal conditions at the start of injection, it is observed that the influence of engine load on premixed combustion is minimal. This could be attributable to the well-controlled intake air temperature in this special engine and therefore the evaporation and mixing rate prior to the start of combustion is similar under different loading conditions. Owing to higher cetane number (CN), B100 is more reactive and auto-ignites up to 3 degrees of crank angle (DCA) earlier compared to B0. It is generally observed in this study that B10 shows a higher maximum value of in-cylinder pressure compared to that of B0 and B20. This could be evidence for lubricant enhancement when operating the engine with low-blending ratio mixtures like B10 in this case.
Recent Developments in Luffa Natural Fiber Composites: Review
Authors: Alhijazi Mohamad , Safaei Babak , Zeeshan Qasim , Asmael Mohammed , Eyvazian Arameh , Qin Zhaoye
Published: September 2020

Natural fiber composites (NFCs) are an evolving area in polymer sciences. Fibers extracted from natural sources hold a wide set of advantages such as negligible cost, significant mechanical characteristics, low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, environmental friendliness, recyclability, etc. Luffa cylindrica, also termed luffa gourd or luffa sponge, is a natural fiber that has a solid potential to replace synthetic fibers in composite materials in diverse applications like vibration isolation, sound absorption, packaging, etc. Recently, many researches have involved luffa fibers as a reinforcement in the development of NFC, aiming to investigate their performance in selected matrices as well as the behavior of the end NFC. This paper presents a review on recent developments in luffa natural fiber composites. Physical, morphological, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and acoustic properties of luffa NFCs are investigated, categorized, and compared, taking into consideration selected matrices as well as the size, volume fraction, and treatments of fibers. Although luffa natural fiber composites have revealed promising properties, the addition of these natural fibers increases water absorption. Moreover, chemical treatments with different agents such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and benzoyl can remarkably enhance the surface area of luffa fibers, remove undesirable impurities, and reduce water uptake, thereby improving their overall characteristics. Hybridization of luffa NFC with other natural or synthetic fibers, e.g., glass, carbon, ceramic, flax, jute, etc., can enhance the properties of the end composite material. However, luffa fibers have exhibited a profuse compatibility with epoxy matrix.
Avian Influenza Virus Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in Shanghai, China, 2016–2018
Authors: Tang Ling , Tang Wangjun , Li Xiaofang , Hu Chuanxia , Wu Di , Wang Tianhou , He Guimei
Published: September 2020

From 2016 to 2018, surveillance of influenza A viruses in wild birds was conducted in Shanghai, located at the East Asian–Australian flyway, China. A total of 5112 samples from 51 species of wild birds were collected from three different wetlands. The total three-year prevalence of influenza A viruses among them was 8.8%, as assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, and the total prevalence was higher in Anseriformes (26.3%) than in the Charadriiformes (2.3%) and the other orders (2.4%) in the Chongmin wetlands. Anseriformes should be the key monitoring group in future surveillance efforts. The peak prevalence of influenza A viruses in Charadriiformes were in April and September, and in other bird orders, the peaks were in November and December. Twelve subtypes of haemagglutinin (HA; H1–H12) and eight subtypes of neuraminidase (NA; N1, N2, N4–N9) were identified in 21 different combinations. The greatest subtype diversity could be found in common teal, suggesting that this species of the bird might play an important role in the ecology and epidemiology of influenza A viruses in Shanghai. These results will increase our understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of influenza A viruses in wild bird hosts in eastern China, and provide references for subsequent surveillance of influenza A virus in wild birds in this area.
Abrogating ALIX Interactions Results in Stuttering of the ESCRT Machinery
Authors: Gupta Shilpa , Bendjennat Mourad , Saffarian Saveez
Published: September 2020

Endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) proteins assemble on budding cellular membranes and catalyze their fission. Using live imaging of HIV virions budding from cells, we followed recruitment of ESCRT proteins ALIX, CHMP4B and VPS4. We report that the ESCRT proteins transiently co-localize with virions after completion of virion assembly for durations of 45 ± 30 s. We show that mutagenizing the YP domain of Gag which is the primary ALIX binding site or depleting ALIX from cells results in multiple recruitments of the full ESCRT machinery on the same virion (referred to as stuttering where the number of recruitments to the same virion >3). The stuttering recruitments are approximately 4 ± 3 min apart and have the same stoichiometry of ESCRTs and same residence time (45 ± 30 s) as the single recruitments in wild type interactions. Our observations suggest a role for ALIX during fission and question the linear model of ESCRT recruitment, suggesting instead a more complex co-assembly model.
Progress in the Development of Universal Influenza Vaccines
Authors: Sun Wenqiang , Luo Tingrong , Liu Wenjun , Li Jing
Published: September 2020

Influenza viruses pose a significant threat to human health. They are responsible for a large number of deaths annually and have a serious impact on the global economy. There are numerous influenza virus subtypes, antigenic variations occur continuously, and epidemic trends are difficult to predict—all of which lead to poor outcomes of routine vaccination against targeted strain subtypes. Therefore, the development of universal influenza vaccines still constitutes the ideal strategy for controlling influenza. This article reviews the progress in development of universal vaccines directed against the conserved regions of hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and other structural proteins of influenza viruses using new technologies and strategies with the goals of enhancing our understanding of universal influenza vaccines and providing a reference for research into the exploitation of natural immunity against influenza viruses.
Novel Approaches to Enhance Oral Bioavailability of Poorly Soluble Drugs
Authors: Buduru Gowthami  , S.V. Gopala Krishna  , D. Subba Rao
Published: September 2020

Oral administration is considered as major, convenient route among all other routes of delivery, owing to several benefits. But, the poor solubility or enzymatic/metabolic activity are the major concerns in developing a successful formulation. About 40% of approved drugs which are in the current market and 90% of new drug molecules in the developmental pipeline are hydrophobic in nature. The challenge to formulate insoluble drugs has met with various approaches to overcome the problems related to solubility, application of nanotechnology is one amongst them. The present review deals with various nanocarriers and technologies that are proven to be effective in enhancing the bioavilability of poorly soluble drugs.
Engelli Çocuğa Sahip Ebeveynlerde Bakım Veren Yükü ve Depresyon Durumlarının İncelenmesi
Authors: ÖREN Besey , AYDIN Reyhan
Published: September 2020

Amaç: Çalışma engelli çocuğa sahip ebeveynlerin bakım veren yükü ve depresyon durumlarını belirlemek amacıyla planlandı.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı olarak yapılan araştırmanın örneklemini 15 Haziran – 15 Ağustos 2018 tarihleri arasında çocuklarını özel eğitim merkezine getiren, okuma-yazma bilen ve araştırmaya katılmayı kabul eden 100 ebeveyn oluşturdu. Veri toplama aracı olarak, araştırmacılar tarafından literatür doğrultusunda hazırlanan Sosyo-demografik özellikleri içeren veri toplama formu, Bakım Verme Yükü Ölçeği ve Beck Depresyon Envanteri kullanıldı. Verilerin değerlendirilmesi yüzdelik ve frekans dağılımları yapılarak incelendi. Bağımlı ve bağımsız değişkenler arasındaki kıyaslamalar Mann Whitney U ve ü Kruskal Wallis testleri ile, bakım yükü ve depresyon durumları arasındaki ilişki ise Spearman kolerasyon analizi ile yapıldı.

Bulgular: Bakım veren ebeveynlerin %78’inin anne, %22’sinin baba olduğu, bakım verilen çocukların %63’ünün kız, %37’sinin erkek olduğu saptandı. Anne ve babaların bakım yükü puanları arasında anlamlı bir fark olmadığı ancak depresyon durumları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görüldü. Bakım veren babaların depresyon puanın annelerden daha yüksek olduğu saptandı. Ebeveynlerin hem bakım yükü hem de depresyon puanlarının ilk okul mezunu olanlarda daha yüksek olduğu saptandı. Ebeveynlerin bakım yükü ve depresyon puanları arasında da pozitif yönde bir ilişki olduğu, bakım veren yükü arttıkça depresyon puanının da orantılı olarak arttığı saptandı.

Sonuç: Bakım sürecinde ailelerin psiko-sosyal desteğe ihtiyaç duyabilecekleri, duygusal paylaşımlar için destek grupları oluşturmak ve engelli çocuğun bakımı konusunda sağlık politikalarının geliştirilmesi ve sağlık çalışanları tarafından bu ebeveynleri destekleyici eğitimlerin uygulanmasının önem taşıdığı söylenebilir.
Modification of Volume Silica Analysis Method in Water Samples to Reduce Hazardous Wastewater at Badak LNG Laboratory
Authors: Sakti Lalang Dwiyoga , Prasetyawan Ika Dalu , Nugraha Achmad Dian
Published: September 2020

Volume of hazardous wastewater generated from analysis of the Badak LNG laboratory activities was found around 1.93 tons with an average of 161 kg/month in 2018 where 27% of this total wastewater came from silica analysis activities. Hence, many efforts have been done to reduce the amount of hazardous wastewater. In this research, the silica analysis activities have been carried out using American Journal of Public Health (APHA) 4500-D Heteropoly Blue method by modification of the volume from the silica content of water samples and reagents at 75%, 50%, and 25% (or ¾, ½, and ¼) recipes. Moreover, in the testing and validation phase, the measurement of silica levels in all samples has been performed using UV-Vis spectrometer at a wavelength of 815 nm. These modifications have included parameters of linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LoD), and limit of quantitation (LoQ). It was found that the volume modification for all samples have fulfilled the required parameters from association of official analytical chemists (AOAC) in linearity, accuracy, and precision. For instance, sample with ½ recipes showed coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9997%, an accuracy of 103.80, and precision (%RSD) value of 0.524. Indeed, LoD and LoQ values for this sample were found to be 0.004 and 0.008. Modification to the volume of ½ recipe was particularly chosen because it was produced the minimum amount of liquid waste remaining at 8.25 mL with the test Duplo analysis. These results demonstrated that silica analysis activities can be used for reduction of wastewater.
Synthesis and Characterization of Diethanolamide (Surfactant) from Cao/Zeolite-Catalysed Used Cooking Oil
Authors: Lusiana Warni , Nadia Asma , Sudiartono Sudiartono , Hariani Poedji Loekitowati , Setyopratiwi Ani , Wijaya Karna
Published: September 2020

Synthesis of diethanolamide (surfactant) from CaO/zeolite-catalysed used cooking oil has been conducted. The results showed that the yields of the reactions between methyl esters and diethanolamine with CaO concentration at 3%, 5%, and 7% were 64.47%, 92.91%, and 87.05%, respectively. The characterization showed that the higher surfactant concentration, the greater the capability of decreasing surface tension. The water-surfactant-pertalite system had an emulsion index of 67%. The new liquid mixture system (water-surfactant-pertalite) was observed for 4 days to investigate the emulsion stability. The CMC and HLB values were 1.5 g/L and 10.59, respectively. These results show that surfactant is applicable as a cleaning solution with a good emulsion stability.
Perfectionism and the Imposter Phenomenon in Academically Talented Undergraduates
Authors: Lee Lindsay Ellis , Rinn Anne Nicole , Crutchfield Kacey , Ottwein Jessica K. , Hodges Jaret , Mun Rachel U.
Published: September 2020

The imposter phenomenon is characterized as difficulty internalizing success due to feelings of inauthenticity or phoniness despite contrary evidence of competence. Academically talented students in undergraduate honors programs could be more vulnerable to the imposter phenomenon as compared to other undergraduates because of experiences surrounding perfectionism and participation in highly selective programs. In this study, researchers examined the relationship among gender, honors program participation, perfectionism, and the imposter phenomenon among undergraduates. Results of a hierarchical regression analysis indicate that socially prescribed perfectionism and honors program participation relate to higher levels of imposter feelings in an undergraduate sample. Implications and practical recommendations for researchers, educators, school counselors, and college administrators are discussed.
Augmented Facelift Flap for Aesthetic Reconstruction of Posttraumatic Facial Defects
Authors: Saha Srinjoy
Published: September 2020

Introduction:Reconstructing posttraumatic facial defects to achieve aesthetically pleasing results is challenging. Different flaps, including many modifications of cheek flaps, are commonly performed, but several problems persist.Aim:To evaluate the effectiveness of an augmented facelift flap for reconstructing posttraumatic facial defects. Fundamentally a rotation-advancement flap inspired by extended facelift markings and deep-plane facelift dissection, it incorporates retroauricular and cervical tissues whenever necessary. Materials and Methods:Ten patients (eight males, two females) with cheek, lateral orbit, and lower eyelid defects were reconstructed with augmented facelift flaps between January 2009 and December 2019. Size of defects ranged between 10.5 to 27 cm2, and patients age between 21 to 78 years (mean, 49.3). Deep-plane facelift dissection was performed for extensive facial defects and subcutaneous dissection for smaller ones. Flap design was based on the principles of extended facelift surgery with necessary extensions. Meticulous dissection and anchoring ‘key sutures’ in four different facial regions were vital in preventing complications.Results:Augmented facelift flap aptly reconstructed defects over the medial cheek, lateral orbit, and lower eyelid with aesthetically pleasing results. Nine patients (90%) healed well without any long-term complications. Among short-term complications, superficial necrosis was found in one patient (10%) and mild venous stasis in three patients (30%). Flap loss and infection were absent. Lower eyelid ectropion and deep marginal necrosis occurred in one patient (10%). Overall, patient satisfaction scores ranged between 50-90 percent (mean, 78%).Conclusion:Augmented facelift flap successfully reconstructed posttraumatic facial defects over the cheek, lateral orbit, and lower eyelids with satisfying aesthetic results.