bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Myth of Administrative Decentralization in the Context of Centralized Human Resources Recruitment in Tanzania
Authors: Lawrence Mrutu Lukio , Kinemo Stella
Published: March 2019

Tanzania is implementing the decentralization by devolution policy (D by D) as a mechanism of facilitating quick development process through the involvement of people from grass root levels. One of the areas for decentralization is administrative decentralization whereby local government authorities are regarded as autonomous organs when it comes to management of human resources from hiring to firing. However, recently from 2009, the government decided to establish a new centralized recruitment system, which recruits and allocates human resources on behalf of local government authorities and other government institutions. Several reasons have been advocated in favour of these changes like to facilitate uniformity and lack of meritocracy by the local government authorities. Using secondary data, this paper attempts to show how the establishment of centralized recruitment in Tanzania has acted as a thorn towards the full attainment of administrative decentralization. The paper ends by concluding that centralized recruitment has not only weakened local authorities in implementing D by D policy but it has left a lacuna in the real meaning of D by D policy.
Technological Insights on Philistine Culture: Perspectives from Tell es-Safi/Gath
Authors: Maeir Aren M. , Ben-Shlomo David , Cassuto Deborah , Chadwick Jeffrey R. , Davis Brent , Behar Adi Eliyahu , Frumin Suembikya (Sue) , Gur-Arieh Shira , Hitchcock Louise A. , Horwitz Liora K. , Manclossi Francesca , Rosen Steven A , Verduci Josephine , Weiss Ehud , Welch Eric L. , Workman Vanessa
Published: March 2019

More than a century of study of the Philistines has revealed abundant remains of their material culture. Concurrently, our understanding of the origins, developmental processes, and socio-political matrix of this fascinating culture has undergone major changes. Among other facets, Philistine technology has been discussed, but in our opinion, a broad view of its importance for understanding Philistine culture is still lacking. The more than twenty years of excavation at Tell es-Safi/Gath, one of the central sites in Iron Age Philistia, offer an opportunity to review a broad range of technology-related evidence from this site, and from this to suggest a current interpretation of Philistine technology within the broader picture of the Iron Age and the processes, mechanisms, interactions, and identity politics of this culture.
Witch Hunts in and around Pärnu 1641–1642
Authors: Ruben Aarne
Published: March 2019

This article explores the shadowy Pärnu witch trials of 1641‒42, including an edited and annotated transcript of the trials. The file is preserved in the Estonian Historical Archives, EAA. f. 915 (County Court of Pärnu), n.1, s.1, pages 54‒70 and 83‒90, with a comprehensive explanation. The trial in Pärnu was the most detailed known trial in the territory of Estonia. The author shows how tense societal relations led to real anger in the economic top-down hierarchy. As is common in a microhistory, the article reveals the life of the peasant Laÿske Martt, the first person actually accused and the instigator of the following tragic consequences.
Litanies of Poetic Seerhood: Magical Epithets in Modern Literary History
Authors: Poutiainen Hannu
Published: March 2019

The nineteenth century, to a far greater degree than any other period, acclaimed its poets and writers with overwhelmingly spiritual honorifics: rather than mere poets and writers, they were priests and magicians, oracles and prophets, sorcerers and seers. In this essay, rather than repeat the various narratives in which literature is exalted as a secular religion and credited for salvaging magic from modern disenchantment, my aim, more philosophical than strictly historiographical, is to consider these honorifics as magical epithets—terms that give to their object the reputation of being magical—that are made effective by following a logic of their own: attributed to writers in acts of readerly judgment, these epithets, when the act of their attribution carries emotional conviction, are experienced as magical and thereby make themselves true in the moment in which they are uttered.
Interval Tree and Its Application in Integer Factorization
Authors: WANG Xingbo
Published: March 2019

The paper first puts forward a way to study odd integers by placing the odd integers in a given interval on a perfect full binary tree, then makes an investigation on the odd integers by means of combining the original properties of the integers with the properties of the binary trees and obtains several new results on how an odd integer's divisors distribute on a level of a binary tree. The newly discovered law of divisors' distribution that includes common divisors between two symmetric nodes, genetic divisors between an ancestor node and its descendant node can provide a new and simple approach to factorize odd composite integers. Based on the mathematical deductions, numerical experiments are designed and demonstrated in the Maple software. All the results of the experiments are conformance to expectation and validate the validity of the approach.
On Jumps Stochastic Evolution Equations With Application of Homogenization and Large Deviations
Authors: Manga Cl´ement , Coulibaly Alioune , Diedhiou Alassane
Published: March 2019

We consider a class of jumps and diffusion stochastic differential equations which are perturbed by to two parameters:  ε (viscosity parameter) and δ (homogenization parameter) both tending to zero. We analyse the problem taking into account the combinatorial effects of the two parameters  ε and δ . We prove a Large Deviations Principle estimate for jumps stochastic evolution equation in case that homogenization dominates.
What Happened to Theatre Studies?
Authors: Lehmann Niels
Published: March 2019

In this article, the recent development of theatre studies is outlined in order to suggest a way forward under the heading of “theatre studies 3.0.” A double thesis is defended. Firstly, it is argued that the development of theatre studies is marked by a simultaneous tendency towards pragmatization, theorization, and expansion. Secondly, it is shown that these three strands of development may be seen as reactions to a more fundamental threefold change of the social semantics: a decline of the tradition of edification, an insistence of convergence of the theoretically and the practically oriented programmesof education, and finally a loss of self-evident borders for disciplines. Having suggested what happened to theatre studies and why it happened, the article suggests that we follow a path called “theatre studies 3.0.” based on “an asymmetrical double strategy”.
Fever and Erythema are Specific Findings in Detecting Infection Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Shohat Noam , Goswami Karan , Tan Timothy L , Henstenburg Brian , Makar Gabriel , Rondon Alexander J , Parvizi Javad
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Current diagnostic modalities are based almost exclusively on laboratory findings and the role of clinical presentation remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the diagnostic value of clinical presentation in detecting periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). This study evaluated 279 patients undergoing revision surgery for failed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 2001-2016. Patients were classified as undergoing septic revisions based on major MSIS criteria. Aseptic revisions were defined as cases of single stage revision that did not have suspected PJI, fulfill MSIS criteria, or subsequently fail within one year of follow-up. Clinical presentation included pain, fever, presence of joint effusion or erythema, and reduced range of motion. Serum and synovial laboratory markers were also evaluated. The diagnostic value of each test was assessed and a Fagan's nomogram was constructed. A subset of MSIS-negative patients was used to demonstrate the value of various clinical presentations in detecting PJI. Post-test probability for infection was calculated taking into account clinical presentation together with serum and synovial markers. Our results show that fever and erythema are the most important signs for diagnosing PJI with a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 10.78 and 8.08, respectively. Effusion had a LR of 2.42. Pain and reduced ROM were not as strongly correlated with PJI diagnosis; LR was 1.02 and 1.51. Of the 35 MSIS-negative patients treated for PJI, 33 had a post-test probability of infection greater than 90% when taking clinical presentation into account. Clinical presentation should be used to guide which future diagnostic tests should be ordered and in the interpretation of their results. Our results indicate that pain, fever, presence of joint effusion or erythema, and reduced range of motion should prompt further workup for infection. We propose a nomogram that may be used in interoperating their individual weight together with laboratory findings. Fever and erythema are highly specific findings in patients with PJI and future studies should assess whether they may be added as minor criteria to current definitions for infection.
Théorie des ensembles flous : une application à l’assurance indicielle au Burkina Faso
Authors: Tiemtore Abel
Published: March 2019

L’assurance indicielle, considérée dès son introduction dans les pays en développement comme un puissant outil de stabilisation des revenus des paysans et de réduction de la pauvreté, a très vite désenchanté ses promoteurs. L’évolution de la demande de cette assurance est particulièrement décevante dans la majeure partie des pays qui l’ont expérimenté. Au Burkina Faso, on constate une forte baisse des adhésions et partant des superficies et des sommes assurées. La principale raison évoquée par les producteurs est l’absence d’indemnisations ou le très faible niveau d’indemnisation en cas de perte de production (risque de base). La présente étude propose l’utilisation des techniques de classification floue qui autorise l’appartenance partielle à des classes à indemniser pour réduire le risque de base et augmenter l’attractivité de l’assurance indicielle au sein des producteurs de coton au Burkina Faso. Nous avons montré que l’application de la technique de classification floue augmente significativement la probabilité d’être indemnisé (de plus de trois fois par rapport à son niveau actuel) mais aussi la prime de l’assurance. Toutefois selon Elabed et Carter (2014a), les producteurs seraient prêts à payer des sommes substantielles pour atténuer ou éliminer totalement le risque de base.
Información y justicia
Authors: Cavaller Víctor
Published: March 2019

El pasado 2 de junio el prestigioso semanario The Economist publicó en su edición impresa dentro de la sección tecnología trimestral un artículo que trataba la temática sobre cómo el aumento de la cantidad y la calidad de datos así como la vigilancia están transformando los sistemas de justicia.
¿Todos iguales?
Authors: Sánchez-Navarro Jordi
Published: March 2019

Sin importar demasiado cuál sea tu ideología u orientación, estarás de acuerdo, querido lector, en que vivimos tiempos muy políticos. Todo es político, y, por tanto, todos los tiempos lo son, pero no me negarás que en esta segunda década del siglo XXI se observan (y de hecho se viven) cambios y riesgos que parecían cosa olvidada hasta hace apenas un par de días. Quizá sea el momento de recuperar ciertos referentes que no debimos olvidar.
Cuenta atrás para la ciencia abierta: 1-1-2020
Authors: Ollé Candela
Published: March 2019

El IV Seminario de Edición Científica puso el foco en cinco de los retos de las revistas científicas. Los seminarios, organizados por la biblioteca UOC donde asisten los responsables de las revistas de la universidad, tanto las académicas como las divulgativas, ya se han consolidado como un punto de encuentro, ideal para compartir, aprender juntos y desvirtualizarnos. En el último me invitaron, junto con el Dr. Ernest Abadal, para explicarles aquellos retos que deben afrontar las revistas a corto plazo en el contexto de la ciencia abierta, donde las políticas, directrices europeas y, recientemente, el Plan S marcan el ritmo y el camino a seguir. El marcador de la cuenta atrás ya ha comenzado y se detendrá el 1 de enero del 2020. ¡Vamos!
Nuevos pasos para la protección de datos personales y los derechos digitales
Authors: Martínez Martínez Silvia
Published: March 2019

El pasado 6 de diciembre se publicaba una nueva Ley Orgánica para la protección de los datos personales. Conscientes los legisladores de la importancia de la irrupción de Internet y de las injerencias y riesgos que puede suponer para la privacidad, dedica especial atención a los llamados derechos digitales. La eliminación de barreras y la popularización de nuevos servicios de información y comunicación han ampliado el alcance del rastro que deja el dato personal en la Red por lo que en los últimos años se dan avances, tanto jurídicos como normativos, hacia la consolidación del derecho al olvido y la defensa del ejercicio de otros derechos propios del entorno online.
Extinction and the U.S. Endangered Species Act
Authors: Greenwald Noah , Suckling Kieran F , Hartl Brett , Mehrhoff Loyal
Published: March 2019

The United States Endangered Species Act is one of the strongest laws of any nation for preventing species extinction, but quantifying the Act’s effectiveness has proven difficult. To provide one measure of effectiveness, we identified listed species that have gone extinct and used previously developed methods to update an estimate of the number of species extinctions prevented by the Act. To date, only four species have been confirmed extinct with another 22 possibly extinct following protection. Another 71 listed species are extinct or possibly extinct, but were last seen before protections were enacted, meaning the Act’s protections never had the opportunity to save these species. In contrast, a total of 39 species have been fully recovered, including 23 in the last 10 years. We estimate the Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of roughly 291 species since passage in 1973, and has to date saved more than 99 percent of species under its protection.
How do campsites, forest fires, and entry point distance affect earthworm abundance in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
Authors: Wellnitz Todd A , Barlow Jenna L , Dick Cory M , Shaurette Terrance R , Johnson Brian M , Wesley Troy K
Published: March 2019

Factors controlling the spread of invasive earthworms in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are poorly known. Believed to have been introduced by anglers who use them as bait, invasive earthworms can alter the physical and chemical properties of soil and modify forest plant communities. To examine factors influencing earthworm distribution and abundance, we sampled 38 islands across five lakes to assess the effects of campsites, fire, and entry point distance on earthworm density, biomass and species richness. We hypothesized that all three parameters would be greater on islands with campsites, lower on burned islands, and would decrease with distance from the wilderness entry point. In addition to sampling earthworms, we collected soil cores to examine soil organic matter and recorded ground and vegetation cover. Campsite presence was the single most important factor affecting sampled earthworm communities; density, biomass and species richness were all higher on islands having campsites. Fire was associated with reduced earthworm density, but had no direct effects on earthworm biomass or species richness. Fire influenced earthworm biomass primarily through its negative relationship to groundcover and through an interaction with entry point distance. Distance affected density but no other factor. For islands with campsites, however, distance from the entry point had a counterintuitive effect in that earthworm biomass, which increased with entry point distance.
SEO: A unique approach to enhance the site rank by implementing Efficient Keywords Scheme
Authors: Rehman Khalil ur , Yasin Anaa , Mahmood Tariq , Azeem Muhammad , Ali Saqib
Published: March 2019

In search engine optimization individual website pages are optimized through precise keywords, while the websites are optimized using back link watch. The existing literature has no proper guideline for keywords selection and back link generation. In this research, we proposed a model for making back link watch generation and the selection of keywords through precise research analysis. The information on webpages consist of specific keywords while the website traffic is monitored through referrals. we concluded that during the development of Page Content, and architecture, if selected keywords are used in Title, Headings and Meta Tag then the page result is higher in search results. Moreover, for the back-link generation use a shorter volume of URL that monitor the complete traffic of a site can be placed on trusted location which increase the ranks of a site. Proposed model has been validated by comparing quantitative data of website rank taken before and after implementation of framework. Results revealed that overall increase gained in site rank by applying the proposed model was 40%.
How systematic reviews cover practitioners' issues: A study on Stack Exchange communities
Authors: Cartaxo Bruno , Pinto Gustavo , Kamei Fernando , Monteiro Danilo , Queda Fabio , Soares Sergio
Published: March 2019

Context: One of the goals of Evidence-Based Software Engineering is to leverage evidence from research to practice. However, some studies suggest this goal has not being fully accomplished.

Objective: This paper proposes a strategy to assess how systematic reviews cover practitioners' issues in software engineering.

Method: We selected 24 systematic reviews identified by a comprehensive tertiary study. Using search strings of the selected systematic reviews, we queried most relevant practitioners' issues on five active Stack Exchange communities, a professional and high-quality Question & Answer platform. After examining more than 1,800 issues, we investigated how findings of the selected systematic reviews could help to solve (i.e. cover) practitioners' issues.

Results: After excluding false positives and duplicates, a total of 424 issues were considered related to the selected systematic reviews. This number corresponds to 1.75% of the 26,687 most relevant issues on the five Stack Exchange communities. Among these 424 issues, systematic reviews can successfully cover 14.1% (60) of them. Based on a qualitative analysis, we identified 45 recurrent issues spread in many software engineering areas. The most demanded topic is related to agile software development, with 15 recurrent issues identified and 127 practitioners' issues as a whole.

Conclusions: An overall coverage rate of 14.1% reveals a good opportunity for conducting systematic reviews in software engineering to fill the gap of not covered issues. We also observed practitioners explicitly demanding for scientific empirical evidence, rich in context and oriented to specific target audiences. Finally, we also provided guidelines for researchers who want to conduct systematic reviews more connected with software engineering practice.
Cortico-hippocampal network connections support the multidimensional quality of episodic memory
Authors: Cooper Rose A , Ritchey Maureen
Published: March 2019

Episodic memories reflect a bound representation of multimodal features that can be reinstated with varying precision. Yet little is known about how brain networks involved in memory, including the hippocampus and posterior-medial (PM) and anterior-temporal (AT) systems, interact to support the quality and content of recollection. Participants learned color, spatial, and emotion associations of objects, later reconstructing the visual features using a continuous color spectrum and 360-degree panorama scenes. Behaviorally, dependencies in memory were observed for the gist but not precision of event associations. Supporting this integration, hippocampus, AT, and PM regions showed increased connectivity and reduced modularity during retrieval compared to encoding. These inter-network connections tracked a multidimensional, objective measure of memory quality. Moreover, distinct patterns of connectivity tracked item color and spatial memory precision. These findings demonstrate how hippocampal-cortical connections reconfigure during episodic retrieval, and how such dynamic interactions might flexibly support the multidimensional quality of remembered events.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN SAFETY ENGINEERING DISCOURSE
Authors: PETKOVIĆ ALEKSANDRA
Published: March 2019

In a fast-changing world of safety, health and environment, professionals, students or anyone else in the field of occupational safety are often required to use English language in their professional and/or academic careers. Apart from technical excellence, engineers need good English language skills and knowledge of ESP (English for Specific Purposes) vocabulary terms in order to make professional improvement. Occupational health and safety (OHS) is an interdisciplinary field, which uses specialist terms and expressions from subject areas as diverse as engineering, medicine, law, psychology, etc. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to discuss briefly the relevant theory of English for Specific Purposes, and the significance of technical words and subject-specific terminology to OHS engineers. Secondly, to identify and provide a reference to some health and safety glossaries and terminology resources in English language that may assist health and safety experts who need to read and write professional literature in English. Key words:technical words, occupational health and safety, vocabulary terms, English for Specific Purposes
ENHANCING SAFETY INFORMATION SYSTEMS WITH THE USE ISO/IEC 27000
Authors: ŠREKL JOŽE , PODBREGAR ANDREJKA
Published: March 2019

A company should pay much attention to information systems security. It is necessary to secure the support system of the organization if we want continuity and effectiveness of business. In addition to providing security through technological precautions to prevent intrusion and abuse, it is necessary to pay more attention to the vulnerability and threats caused by the engaged users. Here we refer to unintentional threats, as a result of faulty workmanship or lack of knowledge of the information system. It is important to strive to reduce the possibility of causing the occurrence of incidents which are the result of improper use of information technology, which is due to ignorance. An organization shall consider and identify vulnerabilities of the system and threats to it. We confront the growing amounts of information in electronic form. Ensuring security of information systems (IS) in the workplace involves many steps that a company must adopt and carry out. The vulnerability of the systems is being examined, whereas the form of the new age of terrorism, cyber- terrorism, is being presented. This paper deals with ways of reducing risks and increasing safety and security of IS. It presents possible ways of ensuring the safe use of IS.
Key words:Information system, management, safety, security.
IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING OF TRAFFIC NOISE FOR THE ACOUSTIC ZONING OF ZRENJANIN
Authors: LAKATUŠ VANA , ADAMOVIĆ ŽIVOSLAV , RADOVANOVIĆ LJILJANA
Published: March 2019

This paper present monitoring of noise as a product of traffic in Zrenjanin. The purpose of this research is to point out the problems caused by the traffic noise. Measurements of sound levels were performed at several locations in Zrenjanin, along the main road: The corner of Nikola Pašić street near the shopping centre, Mala Varoš“. Milutin Milankovic Boulevard next to the Special hospital for pulmonary diseases „Dr Vasa Savic“. The paper gives an example of how to perform measurement in the field when determining the level of noise. In practice, for relevant data measurement results are obtained by authorized accredited institutions that deal with measurement noise. In accordance with regulations, this research can serve as basis for future measurements and monitoring for the purpose of acoustic zoning of Zrenjanin, easier urban planning and controlling of noise level. Acoustic zoning and making zoning maps are of great importance for many urban and strategic planning.
Key words: monitoring, noise, acoustic zoning.
ANALYSIS OF NOISE ABATEMENT MEASURES ON EUROPEAN AIRPORTS
Authors: GANIĆ EMIR , NETJASOV FEĐA , BABIĆ OBRAD
Published: March 2019

Air traffic noise is one of the major constraints of airport development. Many airports recognized noise problem long ago and have introduced a variety of measures to reduce its impact. The number and types of the introduced measures differ between airports. In order to determine the most influential factors for the introduction of noise abatement measures in airport surroundings, the research presented in this paper examined 248 European airports. By analyzing the correlation of specific characteristics related to airports (number of runways and aircraft operations, distance from the city and the population of the city that it serves, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita) and the number of introduced noise abatement measures, five hypothesis were examined: the higher number of aircraft operations causes the introduction of a higher number of noise abatement measures (NAMs); the higher number of runways will affect the introduction of a higher number of NAMs; airports that are closer to the settlement will introduce a higher number of NAMs; the higher population in the vicinity of the airport will affect the introduction of higher number of NAMs; the higher GDP per capita will affect the introduction of a higher number of NAMs. The results of analysis has shown that number of NAMs introduced doesn’t have significant functional relationship with observed factors, except in some certain cases.
Key words: noise, european airports.
Pain neuroscience education on YouTube
Authors: Heathcote Lauren C. , Pate Joshua W. , Park Anna L. , Leake Hayley B. , Moseley G. Lorimer , Kronman Corey A. , Fischer Molly , Timmers Inge , Simons Laura E.
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The Internet in general, and YouTube in particular, is now one of the most popular sources of health-related information. Pain neuroscience education has become a primary tool for managing persistent pain, based in part on the discovery that information about pain can change pain. Our objective was to examine the availability, characteristics, and content of YouTube videos that address the neuroscience of pain.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of videos on YouTube using the search terms “pain education”, “what is pain”, and “pain brain” in January 2018. Videos were included if they were in English, were under 10 minutes long, and included information on the neuroscience of pain. Videos were coded for (i) descriptive characteristics (e.g., number of views, duration on YouTube), (ii) source and style, (iii) whether or not they addressed seven pre-determined target concepts of pain neuroscience education (e.g., ‘Pain is not an accurate marker of tissue state’), and (iv) how engaging they were.

Results

We found 106 unique videos that met the inclusion criteria. The videos ranged from having four views to over five million views (Mdn= 1,163 views), with the three most highly viewed videos accounting for 75% of the total views. Animated videos were much more highly viewed than non-animated videos. Only a small number of videos had been posted by a clearly-identifiable reputable source such as an academic or medical institution (10%), although a number of videos were posted by healthcare professionals and professional medical societies. For a small number of videos (7%), the source was unclear. We found 17 videos that addressed at least one target concept of pain neuroscience science education, only nine of which were considered to be at least somewhat engaging. The target concept ‘Pain is a brain output’ was considered to be well addressed by the most videos (N = 11), followed by ‘Pain is a protector’ (N = 10). We found only one video that adequately addressed all seven target concepts of pain neuroscience education.

Discussion

YouTube contains a variety of videos that practitioners, patients, and families may view to access pain neuroscience education information. A small portion of these videos addressed one or more target concepts of pain neuroscience education in an engaging manner. It is yet to be determined to what extent patients are able to learn information from these videos, to what extent the videos promote behavior change, and thus to what extent the videos may be useful for clinical practice.
Influence of Service Brand Communication on Behavioral Intention Special Reference to the Private Professional Educational Institutes in Batticaloa District
Authors: Ragel V. R. , Kishomigah S.
Published: March 2019

Service brand communication plays a crucial role in determining the Behavioral Intention towards the brands, which is useful for business. It provides the values to consumers as well. This study examined whether service brand communication has an influence on Behavioral Intention in Private Professional Educational Institutes as a research problem. This research was carried out with an objective to examine the influence of service brand communication on behavioural Intention in Private professional Educational Institutes in Batticaloa district. Personal interactive communication and marketing mix communication are considered as the measurement variables of service brand communication and Behavioral Intention is considered as the dependent variable. 200 students from 07 Private Professional Educational Institutes in Batticaloa district have been selected as a sample base on the stratified proportionate random sampling method for this study. Data were analyzed and evaluated by Descriptive statistic, Correlation and multiple regressions analysis. Findings have shown the service brand communication and Behavioral Intention is at a high level. Moreover, it also found that there is a strong positive relationship between service brand communication and behavioral intention. Service brand communication significantly influences the behavioral intention of private professional educational institutes. Results of this study suggest that the service brand communication is important to examine the dispositional source of behavioral intention.
Response of Selected Potato Genotypes to Natural Virus Infection in the Field
Authors: Okeyo Gidraf Onduru , Narla Rama Devi , Otieno Hillary Moses Omondi , Schulte-Geldermann Elmar
Published: March 2019

Potato viruses are one of the major biotic factors causing high yield losses in potato production fields. In contrast to other disease causing pathogens, potato viruses’ lack well documented chemical control strategy and hence difficult to control once established in the field. The aim of the study was to assess the reaction of different potato genotypes to natural virus infection in the field. The present study was carried out on 12 potato genotypes (7 CIP clones and 5 commercial varieties) at the Field Station of the University of Nairobi, Upper Kabete campus Kenya in two potato growth seasons. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) of 4 replications was adopted with 12 treatments. Data was collected on percent crop emergence, disease incidence, growth and yield performance. At the end of season 2, tubers were sampled randomly per genotype and tested for presence of viruses using CIP DAS-ELISA kit. Analysis of variance on different parameters revealed varied response of each genotype to virus infection in the field in both seasons. Four potato viruses: PVS (67%), PVY (20%), PLRV (12%) and PVM (7%), were detected infecting tested potato tubers either as single or as multiple infections. The results revealed that four clones: 392797.22, 393371.157, 398190.200 and 397073.7 had high levels of tolerance to virus infection. Therefore further studies should be done to understand whether they possess quantitative or qualitative resistant traits to specific potato viruses and other biotic factors.
Emodin Isolation from the Leaves of Pteridium acquilinum
Authors: Khan M. E.. , Williams E. T. , Abel A.
Published: March 2019

This study was designed to isolate and characterize the active compound(s) from the leaf extract of Pteridiumacquilinum after the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts had been investigated on some female rats hormones One anthraquinoneemodin (1, 3, 8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-anthra-quinone) was successfully purified from the methanolic extract of the medicinal plant by Chromatography (VLC, TLC and Sephadex). The initial elution was with n hexane– ethyl acetate–methanol (18:22:3, v/v/v) as the two-phase solvent system and yielded 3.4 mg of emodin. The Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC), fraction (from the methanol extract) was analyzed by Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and the chemical structure of the anthraquinone was confirmed by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR analyses. This is the first time this anthraquinone, emodin is being reported from P. aquilinum.
A Retrospective Review of Rifampicin-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis between 2015 and 2017 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Nwalozie R. M. , Agbagwa O. E. , Mac-Fiberesima G.
Published: March 2019

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a significant challenge for the control of TB in Nigeria.

Aim: The study was carried out to assess the prevalence of rifampicin-resistant TB at the point of initial diagnosis among subjects suspected of TB.

Methods: A retrospective review of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and rifampicin resistance detected by GeneXpert™ analysis between 2015 and 2017 in Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital was carried out.

Results: A total of 6733 samples were received and analyzed in the period under review, 1252 (19%) were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 5841 (81%) were negative. The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was 24.56%, 20.11% and 16.86% from 2015 to 2017 respectively. There was a significant decline in the prevalence of MTB from 2015 to 2017 (c2 = 33.59, p = 0.0001). Rifampicin (RIF) resistance was 5.42%, 5.86% and 6.22% respectively from 2015 to 2017; but the trend was not statistically significant (c2 = 0.21; p = 0.6418).

Conclusion: The study showed that despite a decrease in the prevalence of tuberculosis infection there was an increase in rifampicin resistance from 5.42% to 6.22% between 2015 and 2017. There is an urgent need to improve the management of TB in the Port Harcourt metropolis to improve treatment outcomes and to prevent the proliferation of drug resistant strains.
Aromatic Hydrocarbons Degradation and Plasmid Profile of Marine Bacterial Isolates Obtained from Petroleum Contaminated Marine Environments of Niger Delta Nigeria
Authors: Uba Bright Obidinma
Published: March 2019

Aims: To determine the aromatic hydrocarbons degradability and plasmid profile of the marine bacteria isolated from Rivers State contaminated marine environments of Niger Delta.

Study Design: Nine treatments and the controls designs were set up in triplicates containing 100 mL of sterile modified mineral basal medium in 500 mL conical flasks supplemented with 1 mg /L of xylene, anthracene and pyrene each; nine marine hydrocarbon degraders and incubated at 24 ºC for 24 days study. The nine treatments and control set ups designated as ANT1, XYL2, PYR3, ANT4, PYR5, ANT6, XYL7, XYL8, PYR9 and CTRL (Without hydrocarbons) were used to determine the aromatic hydrocarbons degradability and plasmid profile of the marine bacteria.  

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa between September, 2015 and March, 2018.

Methodology: A laboratory scale study was carried on six composite samples of the sediment and water samples from the three studied areas using enrichment, screening, selection, morphological, biochemical, degradation and plasmid assays.

Results: The findings revealed that the three sampling sites harbour a lot of efficient aromatic degrading bacterial strains belonging to the genera: Providencia, Alcaligenes, Brevundimonas, Myroides, Serratia, and Bacillus able to significantly (P = .05) tolerate and grow on the aromatic hydrocarbons. The bacterial strains especially Serratia marcescens XYL7 significantly (P = .05) removed 99.50 ± 0.05 % and 60.00 ± 0.02 % in weights of xylene and pyrene, respectively while Alcaligenes faecalis PYR5 significantly (P =.05) degraded 97.40 ± 0.01 % in weight of anthracene. The degradations of the respective hydrocarbons were found to be plasmid mediated with plasmid sizes between 200 bp - 1.2 kbp.

Conclusion: Thus, the excellent degradative abilities of these bacterial strains especially Serratia marcescens XYL7 could be exploited for bioremediation purposes in Nigeria.
Expression of disease‐related miRNAs in white‐matter lesions of progressive multiple sclerosis brains
Authors: Tripathi Ajai , Volsko Christina , Datta Ushasi , Regev Keren , Dutta Ranjan
Published: March 2019

Background

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression in the serum of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has been correlated with white matter (WM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities. The expression levels and cellular specificity of the target genes of these miRNAs are unknown in MS brain.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze and validate the expression of miRNAs, previously reported as dysregulated in sera of MS patients, in white‐matter lesions (WMLs) of progressive MS brains.

Methods

We performed global miRNA expression profiling analysis in demyelinated WMLs of progressive MS brains (n = 5) and compared the significantly altered miRNAs to previously identified miRNAs from sera of MS patients. Top dysregulated miRNAs common between the two datasets were validated in an independent cohort of MS brains by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and in situ hybridization.

Results

Among the miRNAs that were significantly changed in WML tissues, 11 were similar to pathogenic and 12 were common to protective miRNAs previously identified in sera and correlating with WM MRI abnormalities. Importantly, the expression levels of 58% of the protective miRNAs (7 of 12) were decreased in MS lesions compared to surrounding normal‐appearing tissue. Target genes of these miRNAs were also altered in MS lesions and queries of cell‐specific databases identified astrocytes and microglia as the key cellular expressers of these genes in MS brains.

Conclusions

We identified miRNAs that correlate with MRI abnormalities in lesioned tissue from MS brains.
A method for increasing empirical discriminability and eliminating top‐row preference in photo arrays
Authors: Carlson Curt A. , Jones Alyssa R. , Goodsell Charles A. , Carlson Maria A. , Weatherford Dawn R. , Whittington Jane E. , Lockamyeir Robert F.
Published: March 2019

It is important to consider the two parameters of signal detection theory, discriminability and response bias, when evaluating eyewitness identification from simultaneous lineups. On the basis of the diagnostic feature‐detection hypothesis, we tested a method for increasing discriminability that encourages eyewitnesses to carefully rank each lineup member based on match to their memory for a perpetrator. This procedure increased empirical discriminability and also eliminated a response bias that is largely overlooked in the literature: Participants were biased to choose from the top row of the six‐pack (2 × 3) lineup commonly used in the United States. We argue that suspect position in the simultaneous lineup is an important variable to consider for researchers and the criminal justice system. We also encourage researchers to test the ranking procedure to determine if such a simple set of instructions could be utilized by police to help eyewitnesses correctly sort innocent versus guilty suspects.
SAMHSA refers to streamlining in proposed budget cuts
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2019

Last week, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released its Congressional Justification (CJ), issued by agencies in conjunction with the White House budget request for the next fiscal year. For FY 2020, the White House budget did not request additional money for SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grant, and included cuts to substance abuse prevention (see ADAW, March 18).
AUD researcher and pharma CEO develops new medication
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2019

Bankole Johnson, D.Sc., M.D., is the chairman of Adial Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a medication—AD04, a very low‐dose formulation of ondansetron—for the treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Johnson has long studied medications – ondansetron in particular ‐‐ to treat AUDs (see ADAW, Oct. 15, 2007, Feb. 11, 2008, June 16, 2008, Nov. 3, 2008, June 7, 2010, August 16, 2010, Jan. 31, 2011, Feb. 24, 2014), and most recently has been named the 2019 recipient of the American Society of Addiction Medicine's (ASAM's) R. Brinkley Smithers Distinguished Scientist Award, which will be presented, along with the accompanying lecture, at ASAM's annual conference in Orlando next month.
Interface Formation in Copper‐Steel Multilayered Sheets under Severe Shear Strain
Authors: de Andrade Mendes Filho Anibal , Molotnikov Andrey , Hodgson Peter D. , Lapovok Rimma
Published: March 2019

Asymmetric Accumulative Roll Bonding (AARB) is used to manufacture multilayered copper − Interstitial Free − (IF) steel composites with different internal architecture. The influence of extra shear strain provided by the AARB processing on the composite mechanical properties and formation of the internal interfaces zone is investigated. The deformed microstructure and internal interface areas, which is formed by intermixing and diffusion, are analyzed by TEM. Additionally, finite element modeling is performed to compute the strains distribution around the internal interfaces. It is observed that composite tensile strength can increase up to 83% after the AARB processing as a result of a high degree of microstructural refinement, especially in the vicinity of interfaces. Also, it is verified that higher amounts of shear strain and different internal architectures are directly correlated with the microstructure evolution and interface affected zone width.
A Comparison Study of the Thermal Fatigue Properties of Three Ni‐Based Cast Superalloys Cycled from 20 to 1100 °C
Authors: Zhou Tongjin , Ding Hongsheng , Ma Xiuping , Feng Wei , Zhao Huibin , Li Ailan , Meng Yu , Zhang Huaxia
Published: March 2019

The thermal fatigue properties of cycling from 20 to 1100 °C, a new kind of Ni‐based cast superalloy, named N3 are studied and the results are compared with those of other alloys, namely, K4002 and K403, corresponding to simulation analysis. The results show that the cracking models of the three alloys are basically the same; that is, when the temperature is alternately changed, cracks are easily formed at the interface of the matrix and carbide due to differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the matrix and carbide. The N3 alloy contains a block‐shaped (γ + γ′) eutectic with a volume fraction of 15.5%, which effectively hinders crack propagation, thereby resulting in the best thermal fatigue performance among the investigated alloys. The K4002 alloy also has a sunflower‐like eutectic with a volume fraction of 12.5%, which also shows good structural stability and excellent thermal fatigue properties. However, the K403 alloy exhibits poor thermal fatigue performance for the transformation of the carbides during thermal fatigue; in this case, the carbides form chain‐like M23C6 carbides at the grain boundaries or interdendritic area because of unstable intrinsic character of the alloy. The results also demonstrate that a low eutectic content with a small volume fraction (2.2%) of the K403 alloy does not hinder crack propagation.
Novel Strategy to Accelerate Bone Regeneration of Calcium Phosphate Cement by Incorporating 3D Plotted Poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) Network and Bioactive Wollastonite
Authors: Qian Guowen , Fan Peirong , He Fupo , Ye Jiandong
Published: March 2019

Inefficient bone regeneration of self‐hardening calcium phosphate cement (CPC) increases the demand for interconnected macropores and osteogenesis‐stimulated substances. It remains a challenge to fabricate porous CPC with interconnected macropores while maintaining its advantages, such as plasticity. Herein, pastes containing CPC and wollastonite (WS) are infiltrated into a 3D plotted poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) network to fabricate plastic CPC‐based composite cement (PLGA/WS/CPC). The PLGA/WS/CPC recovers the plasticity of CPC after being heated above the glass transition temperature of PLGA. The presence of the 3D PLGA network significantly increases the flexibility of CPC in prophase and generates 3D interconnected macropores in situ upon its degradation. The addition of WS is helpful to improve the attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow stromal cells in vitro. The in vivo experimental results indicate that PLGA/WS/CPC promotes rapid angiogenesis and bone formation. Therefore, the plastic CPC‐based composite cement with a 3D PLGA network and wollastonite shows an obviously improved efficiency for repairing bone defects and is expected to facilitate the wider application of CPC in the clinic.
Ultrasound/Acidity‐Triggered and Nanoparticle‐Enabled Analgesia
Authors: Gao Xiong , Zhu Piao , Yu Luodan , Yang Liqun , Chen Yu
Published: March 2019

Local anesthetics have been extensively employed to treat postoperative pain, but they generally suffer from short acting duration and potential neurotoxicity under high local concentrations, which require the controlled and sustained releasing patterns of treatment drugs. In this work, it is reported, for the first time, the construction of hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs)‐based nanoplatforms for localized delivery and controlled/sustained release of loaded ropivacaine for local anesthetics, which can be repeatedly triggered by either external ultrasound irradiation or acidity triggering to release the payload, causing on‐demand and long‐lasting analgesia. Based on the in vivo mouse model of incision pain, the controlled and sustained release of ropivacaine achieves more than six hours of continuous analgesia, which is almost three times longer as compared to single free ropivacaine injection. The low neurotoxicity and high biocompatibility of HMONs for nanoparticle‐enabled analgesia are also demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. This designed/constructed HMONs‐based nanoplatform provides a potential methodology for clinical pain management via on‐demand and long‐lasting pain relief.
Chiral N,N′‐Dioxide/Tm(OTf)3 Complex‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Bisvinylogous Mannich Reaction of Silyl Ketene Acetal with Aldimines
Authors: Zou Sijia , Li Weiwei , Fu Kai , Cao Weidi , Lin Lili , Feng Xiaoming
Published: March 2019

An enantioselective bisvinylogous Mannich reaction of silyl ketene acetal with aldimines has been realized by using a chiral N,N′‐dioxide/Tm(OTf)3 complex as catalyst, providing an effective method to synthesize chiral ζ‐amino‐α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

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Metal‐free Carbon Monoxide (CO) Capture and Utilization: Formylation of Amines
Authors: Noh Hyeong‐Wan , An Youngjoon , Lee Seulchan , Jung Jaehoon , Son Seung Uk , Jang Hye‐Young
Published: March 2019

The capture and utilization of CO by 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene (TBD) were performed in the absence of transition‐metal complexes. The reaction of TBD with CO afforded TBD‐CO adducts, which were converted to formylated TBD (TBD‐CHO). TBD‐CO adducts may include an interaction of CO with positively charged species based on NMR and IR analysis. In the presence of amines, CO was transferred from TBD‐CO to amines, producing formylated amines with good yields. The reaction mechanism involving TBD‐CO adducts is presented based on theoretical calculations.

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