bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Familiarity in Increasing Repurchase Intentions in Online Shopping
Authors: Zaid Sudirman
Published: August 2020

This study aims to determine the relationship between trust, satisfaction, and repurchase intention at online shopping providers, such as Tokopedia, Bukalapak, Lazada, Zalora, and Blibli, in Kendari City. In detail, this study also aims to determine the role of familiarity in strengthening the relationship between trust, satisfaction, and repurchase intentions. There are 250 respondents involved in this study obtained through convenience sampling technique. The analysis is carried out in 2 stages. The first stage is to simultaneously test the role of trust and satisfaction in increasing repurchase intention. The second stage is to determine the role of familiarity as a moderating variable. Moderating Regression Analysis (MRA) is used to test the causal relationship. The results of this study indicate that familiarity increases the effect of trust on satisfaction, the effect of trust on repurchase intention, and the effect of satisfaction on repurchase intention. The results of this study contribute to the development of the concept of relationship marketing, especially to increase repurchase intention through the development of the concept of familiarity. This study's limitation is that there is no comparison between familiarity attitudes for each online shopping service provider.
The Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Manufacturing Sector Value Added in Ethiopia: An Application of Bounds Testing Approach to Cointegration
Authors: Bekele Dagim Tadesse
Published: August 2020

The role of the manufacturing sector for the economic growth and structural change is very low in Ethiopia and performing less compering with that of the other sectors in the economy. So, this research tried to look at how different macroeconomic variables affect the manufacturing sector value added by using annual time series data from 1982 to 2018 estimated by Autoregressive-Distributed Lag (ARDL). The result from the Bound test shows manufacturing sector value added has a long-run relationship with macroeconomic variables in the model. In the long-run, general inflation rate, exchange rate, and trade openness have a significant negative effect on the manufacturing sector value-added. In contrast, general government expenditure has a significant positive effect. Also, the Error Correction model shows an adjustment towards the long-run equilibrium of the manufacturing sector value-added. So, the government has to control the general inflation level, promote demand for domestic manufacturing products and competitiveness of domestic firms, and strengthen the backward link of the sector to decrease its import-input dependency to reduce the effect of exchange rate depressions. Lastly, effective and efficient government expenditure will have to be used to increase the manufacturing sector value-added.
A Study Of Investor Financial Behavior on Online Trading System in Indonesian Stock Exchange: E-Satisfaction, E-Loyalty, And E-Trust
Authors: Armansyah Rohmad Fuad
Published: August 2020

The online trading system allows traders to enter orders directly into the system via electronic media immediately and directly. This condition will affect the level of customer satisfaction while increasing customer loyalty. This research examines financial behavior in terms of satisfaction, trust, and loyalty in the use of an online trading system in the Indonesian stock exchange. Data was collected through an electronic questionnaire for the Indonesia Stock Exchange investors using convenience sampling. As many as 255 respondent data were obtained and processed using PLS-SEM (Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Square) approach. The results show that financial behavior, e-trust, e-satisfaction have an effect on the creation of e-loyalty of online trading system users in the Indonesia Stock Exchange. This suggests that the online trading system providers must improve their system's perceived satisfaction, including the features of advice and support in making purchasing decisions.
KONFLIK PERAN GANDA WANITA BEKERJA DI LUAR RUMAH TERHADAP KETAHANAN EKONOMI KELUARGA PERSPEKTIF HUKUM ISLAM
Authors: Holijah Holijah
Published: August 2020

Contemporary social development has been marked by the phenomenon of the emergence of professional women who work in public space. Although they have to work in public sphere, they have to responsible for domestic affairs. This article aims to elaborate the double burdens of these women from the perspective of Islamic law.  This article argued that it is possible for women to have jobs in public sphere as far as they can guarantee that they can fulfill some conditions such as permission from their husbands, avoiding seclusion (khalwat), chosing jobs which is in line with women nature. Saat ini telah terjadi pergeseran nilai yang merubah pola hidup para wanita yang dulu hanya mengurusi pekerjaan domestik. Sekarang para wanita sudah banyak yang berkarir dan bekerja. Dengan demikian, wanita yang bekerja memiliki beban yang lebih berat, di satu sisi ia harus bertanggung jawab atas urusan-urusan rumah tangga, di sisi lain ia juga harus bertanggung jawab atas pekerjaan di luar rumah. Tulisan ini mengkaji peran ganda wanita yang bekerja di luar runah dari perspektif hukum Islam. Hasil penelitian ini menyimpukan bahwa Wanita diperbolehkan untuk bekerja di luar rumah selama dapat menjaga dan menjamin bahwa pekerjaannya tidak bertentangan dengan syariah. Dalam konteks ini izin dari suami, adanya keseimbangan antara peran domestik dan publik, tidak menimbulkan khalwat dengan lawan jenis, dan sebaiknya menjauhi pekerjaan yang tidak sesuai dengan fitrahnya atau karakter kewanitaannya.
NARASI POLIGAMI DI KALANGAN MUSLIMAH AKTIVIS DAKWAH KAMPUS DI YOGYAKARTA Konservatisme dalam Hukum Keluarga Islam
Authors: Nabil Muhammad Faried
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses the main narrative underlining female members of the Campus Propagation Institute (LDK) at several universities in Yogyakarta in dealing with polygamy. This paper argues that narration has an important role in shaping the perception of LDK female members of polygamy. The use of the Narrative Master’s theoretical framework with the method of data collection through interview techniques, found three main narratives that form three groups of interpretations of polygamy, namely the imbalance of the ratio of male and female populations (pro-polygamy groups); Sarah and Ibrahim (pro-polygamy conditional group); and Khadijah Loyalty (counter-polygamy group). This paper also explains how the narratives are used as an ideological foundation. In addition, this research also becomes one of the affirmations that there is actually a growing conservative discourse among women activists of LDK.Tulisan ini mendiskusikan tentang narasi utama yang melandasi anggota perempuan Lembaga Dakwah Kampus (LDK) di beberapa universitas di Yogyakarta dalam menyikapi poligami. Tulisan ini memberikan argumen bahwa narasi mempunyai peran penting dalam pembentukan persepsi anggota perempuan LDK terhadap poligami. Penggunaan kerangka teori Master Narrative dengan metode pengumpulan data melalui teknik wawancara, menemukan tiga narasi utama yang membentuk tiga kelompok interpretasi poligami, yaitu ketimpangan rasio populasi laki-laki dengan perempuan (kelompok pro poligami); Sarah dan Ibrahim (kelompok pro poligami bersyarat); dan Kesetiaan Khadijah (kelompok kontra poligami). Dalam tulisan ini juga menjelaskan bagaimana narasi-narasi tersebut digunakan sebagai landasan ideologis. Selain itu penelitian ini juga menjadi salah satu penegas bahwa sesungguhnya terdapat wacana konservatisme yang berkembang pada tubuh LDK dilihat dari sikapnya dalam memandang poligami.
Hydroxyl Changing Mechanism of Cotton Cellulose during Alkaline Treatment Characterized by ATR-FTIR in Combination with Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy
Authors: Ji Bolin , Cai Zijing , Sun Gang , Yan Kelu
Published: August 2020

Hydroxyl changes of cotton cellulose treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution is closely related with hydrogen bonding (H-bonds) between different hydroxyls, which is difficult to directly measure by common instrumentational methods of X-ray diffraction (XRD) or Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2Dcos) is a powerful tool to analyze the changes of molecular spectroscopy. In this study, the alkaline-treated cotton cellulose was monitored in real time by attenuated total reflection (ATR) in combination with 2Dcos. Results indicated that the H-bonds changed in the following sequence order: v(O3-H3…O5) (intramolecular) → v(O6-H6…O3′) (intermolecular) → v(O2-H2…O6) (intramolecular). Moreover, Gaussian computational modeling analysis also confirmed this mechanism. Both XRD and FTIR results indicated the decrease of crystallinity of the alkaline-treated cotton cellulose over prolonged time.
Mechanical Properties and Failure Analysis of 3D-Woven Copper Wire/Glass Fiber Hybrid Composites
Authors: Xu Fujun , Zheng Liangang , Zhang Kun , Aouraghe Mohamed Amine , Saleemi Sidra , Cao Yanhong , Qiu Yiping
Published: August 2020

Three-dimensional woven fabrics with excellent structural integrity are a very promising structure for multifunctional materials hybridized with various yarns. To systematically investigate mechanical properties and failure analysis of 3D-woven hybrid composites, copper wire/glass fiber composites with two hybrid structures, single-face copper wire (SF-CW) and double-face copper wire (DF-CW), were fabricated and tested. The SF-CW hybrid composites showed excellent tensile strength (1214 MPa) and bending strength (964 MP), which was greater than that of the DF-CW hybrid composites. Additionally, the compression strength and impact resistance of both composites exhibited comparable properties with traditional materials. Furthermore, all failure cross sections showed superior structural integrity and anti-delaminate properties, demonstrating that 3D-woven composites can be a good candidate platform by hybridization with various multifunctional yarns.
Use of Tea and Tobacco Industrial Wastes in Dyeing and Antibacterial Finishing of Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Yılmaz Fazlıhan , Bahtiyari Muhammed İbrahim
Published: August 2020

Textile finishing processes cover a variety of steps in which various chemicals and methods can be used to functionalize the fabrics. The objective of this study is to investigate the usability of tea and tobacco industrial waste as natural dye sources and antibacterial agents for cotton fabrics. These wastes were collected from the related mills and used directly without previous extraction, as well as in extracted form. Dyeings were conducted at two different temperatures and the dyed samples were analyzed in terms of obtained colors, fastness values, and antibacterial efficiencies. Useful coloration of the cotton fabrics with sufficient fastness values was achieved, with bacterial reductions dependent upon treatment conditions. In general, waste from tea processing yielded better results.
Anti-Pilling and Resin Finishing of Rayon and Rayon/Cotton Fabrics using 2332 Mixed Level Factorial Design
Authors: Naeem Farhana , Asim Fareha , Tufail Muhammad
Published: August 2020

Pilling resistance characteristics of rayon and rayon/cotton fabrics was improved by combining anti-piling and resin finish using a statistical technique. A 2332-mixed level factorial design was chosen. Five factors were selected: anti-pilling agent and resin finish (at three levels), and fabric blend ratio, fabric weave, and curing method (at two levels). Two response variables— pilling before and after wash—were analyzed at the sixth level using contour and interaction plots. A high pilling grade (4.5) was achieved on plain rayon and rayon/cotton fabrics using one concentration range of anti-pilling agent and resin finish (normal or shock cure), and for satin fabric using a different concentration range of anti-pilling agent and resin finish. Normal curing gave good pilling grades compared to those using shock curing.
Critical Concave Convex Ambrosetti–Prodi Type Problems for Fractional 𝑝-Laplacian
Authors: Bueno H. P. , Huerto Caqui E. , Miyagaki O. H. , Pereira F. R.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we consider a class of critical concave convex Ambrosetti–Prodi type problems involving the fractional p-Laplacian operator. By applying the linking theorem and the mountain pass theorem as well, the interaction of the nonlinearities with the first eigenvalue of the fractional p-Laplacian will be used to prove existence of multiple solutions.
Ambiguity and Awareness: A Coherent Multiple Priors Model
Authors: Grant Simon , Guerdjikova Ani , Quiggin John
Published: August 2020

Ambiguity in the ordinary language sense means that available information is open to multiple interpretations. We model this by assuming that individuals are unaware of some possibilities relevant to the outcome of their decisions and that multiple probabilities may arise over an individual’s subjective state space depending on which of these possibilities are realized. We formalize a notion of coherent multiple priors and derive a representation result that with full awareness corresponds to the usual unique (Bayesian) prior but with less than full awareness generates multiple priors. When information is received with no change in awareness, each element of the set of priors is updated in the standard Bayesian fashion (that is, full Bayesian updating). An increase in awareness, however, leads to an expansion of the individual’s subjective state and (in general) a contraction in the set of priors under consideration.
Exploring the role of macroalgal traits on the feeding behaviour of a generalist herbivore in Malaysian waters
Authors: Yin Lim Wai , Eem Lim Phaik , Amri Affendi Yang , Looi Song Sze , Cheng Acga
Published: August 2020

With the potential adverse effects of climate change, it is essential to enhance the understanding of marine ecosystem dynamics, which can be driven by the co-evolutionary interaction between autotrophs and herbivores. This study looked into the autotroph-herbivore interactions in Malaysian waters, mainly to determine if autotroph nutritional quality significantly influences herbivore consumption rates. We documented the relative consumption rate of a generalist herbivore (Chanos chanos Forsskål) obtained from the Straits of Malacca through multiple feeding trials using 12 macroalgal species collected from different coastal areas of the Straits of Malacca, the Straits of Johor, and the South China Sea. The herbivore fed selectively on the tested macroalgal species, with the most and least consumed species having the lowest and highest total nitrogen content, respectively. Besides total nitrogen content, the least consumed species also had the highest total phenolic content. Interestingly, we observed that the herbivore generally preferred to consume filamentous macroalgae, especially those collected from the South China Sea. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the feeding behaviour of a generalist herbivore could be influenced by the nutritional quality of the autotrophs, which may depend directly or indirectly on other factors such as autotroph morphology and geography.
A connectionist approach to analogy. On the modal meaning of periphrastic do in Early Modern English
Authors: Budts Sara
Published: August 2020

This paper innovatively charts the analogical influence of the modal auxiliaries on the regulation of periphrasticdoin Early Modern English by means of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), a flavour of connectionist models known for their applications in computer vision. CNNs can be harnessed to model the choice between competitors in a linguistic alternation by extracting not only the contexts a construction occurs in, but also the contexts it could have occurred in, but did not. Bearing on the idea that two forms are perceived as similar if they occur in similar contexts, the models provide us with pointers towards potential loci of analogical attraction that would be hard to retrieve otherwise. Our analysis reveals clear functional overlap betweendoand all modals, indicating not only that analogical pressure was highly likely, but even that affirmative declarativedofunctioned as a modal auxiliary itself throughout the late 16th century.
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation Performance in New Ventures: Examining the Roles of Strategic Flexibility and Environmental Turbulence
Authors: Yu Yunjiang , Zhang Xiang , Huang Shenglan , Chen Zhi , Chen Zhicheng
Published: August 2020

This study seeks to disclose the influencing mechanism of entrepreneurial leadership on innovation performance in new ventures. Drawing on the upper echelons theory, we construct a mediation model to examine the mechanism through which entrepreneurial leadership affects innovation performance of new ventures via strategic flexibility. To obtain an in-depth understanding of the mediating mechanism, this study argues that environmental turbulence could be considered as the moderating variable. Our hypotheses are tested on a sample of 175 Chinese high-tech new ventures. The results show that strategic flexibility mediates the association between entrepreneurial leadership and innovation performance. However, the results only support the moderation of technological turbulence on the association between entrepreneurial leadership and strategic flexibility. Our findings extend the entrepreneurship and leadership research by investigating how entrepreneurial leadership affects innovation performance of new ventures via strategic flexibility, and the effectiveness of entrepreneurial leadership under technological turbulence.
Evaluation of saponin-rich/poor leaf extract-mediated silver nanoparticles and their antifungal capacity
Authors: Nguyen Dai Hai , Vo Thanh Nguyet Nguyen , Le Ngoc Thuy Trang , Thi Dieu Phuong Nguyen , Thi Thai Thanh Hoang
Published: August 2020

One-pot green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has attracted much attention due to its simplicity, high feasibility in scaling up production, abundantly renewable sources, and environmental friendliness. Herein, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Phyllanthus urinaria leaf extracts (OT-ext and P.uri.ext, respectively) were chosen as reacting agents with rich and poor saponins to fabricate two biogenic AgNPs and characterize them. OT-AgNPs were simply and successfully generated by OT-ext. Ultraviolet-visible spectra showed the peak centered at 434 nm, which confirmed the presence of AgNPs after an 8-h reaction. FT-IR showed the organic functional groups (OH, C═O, C═C, CH, and COC) capping the surface of OT-AgNPs, which agreed with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis exhibiting the composition containing C, O, and Ag. Transmission electron microscopy micrographs revealed that OT-AgNPs possess spherical morphology, with a size range of 5–61 nm, and the majority having a small size within that range. In comparison, P.uri.AgNPs formed by P.uri.ext had a size distribution in a similar range, but the P.uri.AgNP diameter shifted toward larger sizes. Further, OT-AgNPs and P.uri.AgNPs showed an effective antifungal ability against Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus. Overall, it was found that the rich saponins in the extracts lead to the formation of smaller AgNPs, but all extract-mediated AgNPs with a size less than 100 nm can act as a fungicide for various applications.
Hardness of chemically densified Yellow birch in relation to wood density, polymer content and polymer properties
Authors: Triquet Juliette , Blanchet Pierre , Landry Véronic
Published: August 2020

Density of wood can be increased by filling its porous structure with polymers. Such densification processes aim to increase hardness of wood and are particularly interesting for flooring applications. This study aims to evaluate efficiency of different polymers for chemical densification based on the polymer properties. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) was chemically densified with seven monomer mixtures through acrylate monomer impregnation and electron beam in-situ polymerization. Chemical retention and polymer content of densified woods were recorded. Hardness of treated and untreated Yellow birch was measured and compared to hardness of Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril L.). All densified woods showed higher or comparable hardness to Jatoba. Hardness of densified wood was analyzed in relation to initial density of wood and polymer content of the material using multivariable linear mixed models. Efficiency of polymers for chemical densification was evaluated through effect of polymer content on hardness with interaction coefficients. Polymer films corresponding to monomer impregnating mixtures were prepared through low energy electron beam and characterized by their glass transition temperature, micro hardness, indentation modulus and crosslinking density. Polymers showed statistically significantly different efficiencies and were separated in two main groups. Overall, polymer efficiency increased with increasing glass transition temperature of polyacrylates.
ADAM8 affects glioblastoma progression by regulating osteopontin-mediated angiogenesis
Authors: Li Yu , Guo Songbo , Zhao Kai , Conrad Catharina , Driescher Caroline , Rothbart Vanessa , Schlomann Uwe , Guerreiro Helena , Bopp Miriam H. , König Alexander , Carl Barbara , Pagenstecher Axel , Nimsky Christopher , Bartsch Jörg W.
Published: August 2020

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain cancer with a median survival of only 15 months. To complement standard treatments including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, it is essential to understand the contribution of the GBM tumor microenvironment. Brain macrophages and microglia particularly contribute to tumor angiogenesis, a major hallmark of GBM. ADAM8, a metalloprotease-disintegrin strongly expressed in tumor cells and associated immune cells of GBMs, is related to angiogenesis and correlates with poor clinical prognosis. However, the specific contribution of ADAM8 to GBM tumorigenesis remains elusive. Knockdown of ADAM8 in U87 glioma cells led to significantly decreased angiogenesis and tumor volumes of these cells after stereotactic injection into striate body of mice. We found that the angiogenic potential of ADAM8 in GBM cells and in primary macrophages is mediated by the regulation of osteopontin (OPN), an important inducer of tumor angiogenesis. By in vitro cell signaling analyses, we demonstrate that ADAM8 regulates OPN via JAK/STAT3 pathway in U87 cells and in primary macrophages. As ADAM8 is a dispensable protease for physiological homeostasis, we conclude that ADAM8 could be a tractable target to modulate angiogenesis in GBM with minor side-effects.
Specific acclimations to phosphorus limitation in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Dell’Aquila Gianluca , Maier Uwe G.
Published: August 2020

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial element and diatoms, unicellular phototrophic organisms, evolved efficient strategies to handle limiting phosphorus concentrations in the oceans. In the last decade, several groups investigated the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum concerning phosphate homeostasis mechanisms. Here, we summarize the actual status of knowledge by linking the available data sets, thereby indicating experimental limits but also future research directions.
Metabolism of non-growing bacteria
Authors: Lempp Martin , Lubrano Paul , Bange Gert , Link Hannes
Published: August 2020

A main function of bacterial metabolism is to supply biomass building blocks and energy for growth. This seems to imply that metabolism is idle in non-growing bacteria. But how relevant is metabolism for the physiology of non-growing bacteria and how active is their metabolism? Here, we reviewed literature describing metabolism of non-growing bacteria in their natural environment, as well as in biotechnological and medical applications. We found that metabolism does play an important role during dormancy and that especially the demand for ATP determines metabolic activity of non-growing bacteria.
Aggressive behaviour among in-school adolescents in a developing country: patterns and associated factors
Authors: Chiebuka Peter , Ndukuba Appolos , Abasiubong Festus
Published: August 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the pattern of aggression among senior secondary school students in Calabar and the psychosocial factors that are associated with it.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study of 453 randomly selected senior secondary school students utilizing a self-administered Socio-demographic questionnaire obtain data regarding age, gender etc. and a brief interview using the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) to determine aggression.

Results

The mean weighted MOAS score was 26.94 ± 0.02. Males had significantly higher weighted MOAS total score than females (t=6.466, p<0.001). There was no gender difference in their aggression against objects but the older adolescents scored higher than the younger ones (t=2.029, p=0.043). Males scored higher in verbal aggression (t=3.064, p=0.002) and physical aggression (t=7.002, p<0.001). In the aggression against self-domain, females scored higher than males (t=1.961, p=0.050). All the domains of aggression correlated positively with the total weighted MOAS score, the strongest being with physical aggression (r=0.908, p=0.000).

Conclusions

Gender appears to play a significant role in aggression among the participants. That females scored higher in aggression to self may have implications for prevention of suicide among youths.
Health profile with body mass index and physical fitness in Swedish adolescents: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Yohannes Helen , Östenberg Anna Hafsteinsson , Alricsson Marie
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Physical inactivity and poor physical fitness in children and adolescents are growing public health problems globally. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and three physical fitness components, including overall fitness, according to the Swedish Physical power, Mental harmony and Social capacity profile (FMS profile). Another aim was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the FMS questionnaire and fitness tests.

Methods

A total of 3,692 male and female adolescents in Sweden, between year 2004 and 2013, aged from 16 to 18 years old, were included. Height and weight data were collected to calculate the Body mass index (BMI). The participants performed physical fitness tests, which measure cardio-respiratory fitness, muscular strength and flexibility. The test-retest study included 18 adolescents, aged 16. They answered the FMS questionnaire and participated in the fitness tests with one-week interval.

Results

A weak inverse relationship between BMI and physical fitness was found: r=−0.06 to −0.07 (p<0.05) for flexibility, r=−0.13 to 0.10 (p<0.001) for strength, r=−0.14 to −0.33 (p<0.001) for cardiorespiratory fitness, and r=−0.15 to −0.27 (p<0.001) for overall fitness. In the test-retest study, the ICC’s for strength, flexibility and balance were 0.94, 0.96 and 0.89, respectively. The ICC’s for the questions regarding lifestyle ranged from 0.75 to 1.00 and for diet, physical activity and drugs were 0.56, 0.44 and 0.58, respectively. The correlation was stronger in overweight/obese individuals compared to normal weight individuals.

Conclusion

Overweight and obese individuals scored lower in the fitness tests compared to their normal weight counterparts. The test-retest study revealed that the FMS questionnaire and fitness tests are reliable tools.
Association between sitting posture on school furniture and spinal changes in adolescents
Authors: Araújo Lucele G. L. , Rodrigues Vandilson P. , Figueiredo Ivan A. , Medeiros Maria N. L.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To investigate the association between sitting posture during the use of school furniture and changes in the spine in adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 240 students. The sitting position on school furniture was collected five times (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 min). Postural alteration of the spine was identified by direct observation in front of a symmetograph. Screening for scoliosis was obtained by Adams test.

Results

The presence of the factor away from the table presented higher percentages at times 3, 6, 9, and 15 min (24.2, 25, 29.2, and 26.7%, respectively). At 12 min, the highest frequency was the presence of poorly positioned lower limbs (25.8%). Associations were observed between poor sitting posture with changes in head anteriorization and retroversion of the pelvis among women and with thoracic hyperkyphosis in men.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that there are sex-dependent associations between poor sitting posture during use of school furniture and spinal alterations in adolescents.
Computational fluid dynamics simulation of solid-liquid suspension characteristics in a stirred tank with punched circle package impellers
Authors: Gu Deyin , Ye Mei , Liu Zuohua
Published: August 2020

Solid-liquid suspension characteristics in a stirred tank with four pitched-blade impellers, circle package impellers, and punched circle package impellers were studied via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. A classical Eulerian-Eulerian approach coupled with the standard k-ε turbulence model was adopted to simulate the solid-liquid two-phase turbulent flow. The effects of impeller speed, power consumption, impeller type, aperture size/ratio, solid particle diameter and liquid viscosity on the solid particle suspension quality were investigated. Results showed that the solid particle suspension quality was improved with an increment in the impeller speed. Punched circle package impeller could reduce the just suspension speed and improve the level of homogeneity for solid-liquid mixing process on the basis of four pitched-blade impeller and circle package impeller. The optimum aperture ratio and aperture diameter were 11.8% and 8 mm, respectively, for solid particles suspension process in this work. Smaller particle diameter led to smaller settling velocity and higher solid particle suspension quality. More viscous liquid was easier for sustaining the solid particles in suspension state. Meanwhile, punched circle package impeller can reduce the power consumption compared with four pitched-blade impeller and circle package impeller at the same impeller speed, and enhance the solid integrated velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, and turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate of solid-liquid mixing system at the same power consumption.
Effect of microwave-drying on the quality and antioxidant properties of Ganoderma lucidum fermented sea-buckthorn tea
Authors: Xin Yan-Hua , Zhao San-Hu , Yang Jie , Zhang Tie-Dan , Zhang Jian-Hua , Wang Yu
Published: August 2020

Effects of microwave power on the sensory properties (taste and aroma), chemical composition (catechins, caffeine, crude protein, and amino acid), active composition (flavones, triterpene, polysaccharide, and ergosterol) and antioxidant properties (superoxide free radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging abilities, reducing power) of Ganoderma lucidum fermented sea-buckthorn tea were investigated. G. lucidum fermented sea-buckthorn tea was dehydrated using microwaves at three power settings: 125, 250, and 500. After microwave treatment, a statistically significant difference in the chemical composition, active composition and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05) of teas dried at different power settings was found. These results indicate that 250 W microwave treatments could effectively release and activate active components, improving the antioxidant activity of fermented tea.
‘Ilāj bi’l-Tadbīr (regimenal therapy): a core mode of Unani treatment
Authors: Ansari Athar Parvez
Published: August 2020

Since antiquity, the Unani system of medicine has been participating in health care system. Usually, four modes of treatment viz. regimenal therapy, dietotherapy, pharmacotherapy and surgery are applied for the treatment of diseases. Regimenal therapy is an important mode in which the morbid matter present in the body is either dispersed/excreted or its unnecessary production is blocked or its flow is restricted and the diseases are cured by natural healer of the body, consequently bring back the humoural stability. Nearly 30 regimens have been mentioned in classical Unani literature. Commonest regimenal procedures such as fasd (venesection/phlebotomy), hijāma (cupping), ta‘līq al-‘alaq (hirudotherapy/leech therapy), ishāl (purgation), qay’ (emesis), idrār-i-bawl (diuresis), huqna (enema), ta’rīq (diaphoresis), riyādat (exercise), dalk (massage), hammām (bathing), tadhīn (oiling), natūl (irrigation), sakūb (douching/spraying), inkibāb (steam/vapour application), takmīd (fomentation) etc. are usually applied for the management of various ailments. These regimenal procedures are completely based on holistic approach and are potential but needs to be explored scientifically. This review outlines the therapeutic applications of various regimens of regimenal therapy used in Unani medicine.
Three-Dimensional Ballistic-Diffusive Heat Transport in Silicon: Transient Response and Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Mansoor Saad Bin , Yilbas Bekir S.
Published: August 2020

Phonons are the main contributors to thermal energy transfer in thin films. The size dependence of the thermal transport characteristics alters the film properties such as thermal conductivity. Hence, in the present study, three-dimensional, transient phonon transport in dielectric material is studied through the Equation of Phonon Radiative Transport (EPRT) to assess the size dependence of thermal conductivity. The numerical scheme is introduced solving the EPRT in three dimensions and the governing algorithm is described in detail. A parametric study is carried out examining the effect of the

Kn

\mathrm{Kn}

number on the thermal energy transport characteristics in three-dimensional thermally excited film. The formulation and estimation of the effective thermal conductivity tensor is presented and discussed, thereby extending, to some extent, the one-dimensional results obtained earlier. We demonstrate that thermal conductivity changes in all directions, depending on the size effect. In addition, the directions of the temperature gradient and heat flux vectors differ as the

Kn

\mathrm{Kn}

number approaches unity.
Importance of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in liver disease
Authors: Kim Hyun Jin
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Recently, several studies have reported the association between elevation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and liver disease, especially, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of TSH elevation in patients with liver disease.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients aged <18 years who were diagnosed with liver disease between January 2015 and March 2019.

Results

Among the 77 patients, 17 (22.1%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and 3 (17.6%) progressed to overt hypothyroidism. A total of 26 (33.8%) patients had NAFLD, and 6 (23.1%) had subclinical hypothyroidism. The ultrasound grade of liver steatosis was not related to the elevation of TSH levels. The median age was significantly younger in patients with TSH elevation (5 vs. 9 years, p = 0.017). Albumin levels were significantly decreased (3.9 vs. 4.3 g/dL, p = 0.007), and total bilirubin levels were elevated (2.2 vs. 0.6 mg/dL, p = 0.001) in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Conclusions

TSH elevation commonly occurs in patients with liver disease, especially those with younger age. The cause of liver disease was not a risk factor for TSH elevation.
Transcobalamin II deficiency in twins with a novel variant in the TCN2 gene: case report and review of literature
Authors: Kose Engin , Besci Ozge , Gudeloglu Elif , Suncak Suzan , Oymak Yesim , Ozen Selime , Isguder Rana
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Transcobalamin II (TC) is an essential plasma protein for the absorption, transportation, and cellular uptake of cobalamin. TC deficiency presents in the first year of life with failure to thrive, hypotonia, lethargy, diarrhea, pallor, mucosal ulceration, anemia, pancytopenia, and agammaglobulinemia. Herein, we present TC deficiency diagnosed in two cases (twin siblings) with a novel variant in the TCN2 gene.

Case presentation

4-month-old twins were admitted with fever, respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Physical examination findings revealed developmental delay and hypotonia with no head control, and laboratory findings were severe anemia, neutropenia, and hypogammaglobulinemia. Despite normal vitamin B12 and folate levels, homocysteine and urine methylmalonic acid levels were elevated in both patients. Bone marrow examinations revealed hypocellular bone marrow in both cases. The patients had novel pathogenic homozygous c.241C>T (p.Gln81Ter) variant in the TCN2 gene. In both cases, with intramuscular hydroxycobalamin therapy, laboratory parameters improved, and a successful clinical response was achieved.

Conclusions

In infants with pancytopenia, growth retardation, gastrointestinal manifestations, and immunodeficiency, the inborn error of cobalamin metabolism should be kept in mind. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for better clinical outcomes. What is new? In literature, to date, less than 50 cases with TC deficiency were identified. In this report, we presented twins with TCN2 gene mutation. Both patients emphasized that early and aggressive treatment is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes. In this report, we identified a novel variation in TCN2 gene.
Role of urinary NGAL and KIM-1 as biomarkers of early kidney injury in obese prepubertal children
Authors: Polidori Nella , Giannini Cosimo , Salvatore Roberta , Pelliccia Piernicola , Parisi Adriana , Chiarelli Francesco , Mohn Angelika
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Childhood obesity is an important cause of end-stage renal disease. To date, available markers do not characterize kidney changes, especially in the early stages. kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are already detected before the onset of proteinuria or alterations of glomerular filtration rate and thus might represent biomarkers that directly reflect kidney injury.

Methods

We characterize kidney injury in a group of 40 obese-prepubertal children compared to 29-healthy age- and gender matched-peers. Anthropometric measurements and body composition were determined. Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of insulin, glucose, lipid profile, transaminases, cystatin C and creatinine. Urine samples were collected to assess urinary NGAL, KIM-1 and urinary isoprostanes. Kidney length was measured with ultrasound evaluation. Differences between the two groups were evaluated by Mann–Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore relationship between variables.

Results

Triglycerides, alanine transaminase (ALT), glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance, triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratio and cystatin C values were significantly higher in obese children than normal weight peers. Creatinine values were normal and similar between the two groups, while isoprostanes were higher in obese. Obese children had larger kidney sizes, indicating organ hypertrophy. NGAL and KIM-1 were increased in obese children compared to controls. A significant association between NGAL and KIM-1 with adiposity indices, insulin status and markers of oxidative stress postulated a possible effect of obesity in inducing kidney abnormalities. KIM-1 and NGAL are directly related respectively to cystatin C and isoprostanes, supporting the ability of these biomarkers in reflecting early kidney damages in obese subjects.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that obese subjects exhibit a certain degree of renal damage before kidney function loss.
Mutations in PMM2 gene in four unrelated Spanish families with polycystic kidney disease and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia
Authors: Moreno Macián Francisca , De Mingo Alemany Carmen , León Cariñena Sara , Ortega López Pedro , Rausell Felix Dolores , Aparisi Navarro María , Martinez Matilla Marina , Cardona Gay Cristina , Martinez Castellano Francisco , Albiach Mesado Vicente
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglucemia (HH) is characterized by a dysregulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. Congenital hyperinsulinism has been associated with specific genes in monogenic forms and also with other diseases with a yet unknown genetic cause. In 2017, Rubio Cabezas et al. described the association of HH and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) with a promoter mutation in the PMM2 gene. They found that all the patients carried a promoter mutation (c-167G>T) in PMM2, either homozygous or in trans with a second PMM2 coding mutation.

Methods

We performed the study of the PMM2 gene in six patients from four unrelated families, previously diagnosed with ARPKD and HH.

Results

All these patients had in common the heterozygous variant c-167G>T in the promoter region for PMM2. Additionally, each patient carried a compound heterozygote for a second missense mutation in this gene (p.Arg141His, p.Asp148Asn or p.Phe157Ser), previously reported as pathogenic for congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ia, with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Unlike the previous published article, two of our patients showed altered type 1 pattern and one of them with rectal bleeding that could be a sign of PMM2-congenital disorders of glycosylation.

Conclusion

We propose the study of this gene when carrying out the diagnosis of patients with HH, especially in the neonatal period and when a recessive polycystic kidney disease without alterations in PKDH1 is diagnosed.
Group Duties Without Decision-Making Procedures
Authors: Björnsson Gunnar
Published: August 2020

Stephanie Collins’ Group Duties offers interesting new arguments and brings together numerous interconnected issues that have hitherto been treated separately. My critical commentary focuses on two particularly original and central claims of the book: (1) Only groups that are united under a group-level decision-making procedure can bear duties. (2) Attributions of duties to other groups should be understood as attributions of “coordination duties” to each member of the group, duties to either take steps responsive to the others with a view to the group’s doing what is said to be its duty or to express willingness to do so. In support of the first claim, Collins argues that only groups that can make decisions can bear duties, and that the ability to make decisions requires the relevant sort of decision-making procedure. I suggest that both parts of this argument remain in need of further support. I furthermore argue that Collins’ account of coordination duties gets certain kinds of cases wrong, and suggest that attributions of duties to groups without decision-making procedures are more plausibly understood as attributing shared duties grounded in demands on the group’s members to care about the values at stake.
Stranding cases of endangered Ganges river dolphins in the Ghaghara–Sharada irrigation canals, Ganges river basin, India: conservation implications
Authors: Prajapati Shakti
Published: August 2020

Populations of endangered Ganges and Indus river dolphins have been under severe threat from diversion of river water by dams, barrages, and canal networks across the Indus and Ganges–Brahmaputra river basins. River dolphins prefer deep water and might enter irrigation canals in the dry-season, getting stranded there. Stranding can cause mortality and local population declines, and poses an emerging challenge to river dolphin conservation efforts. In Pakistan’s Indus river basin, stranding rates of Indus dolphins in irrigation canals are high, and well-coordinated rescue-release operations are undertaken. Despite commendable river dolphin rescue efforts in some parts of India, stranding cases are not always reported. From open-access media reports (2007–08 to 2017–18), I found 26 stranding cases of Ganges river dolphins from the Ghaghara–Sharada canal network across seven districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Of these, 62% reports were from 2015 to 2016. Most cases occurred in secondary and tertiary canal branches. Interviews with fishers, farmers, and government officials revealed low awareness of stranding cases. Stranded dolphins might have no chance of returning to their source habitat, unless rescued. From my results, I discuss how current barrage-canal operations could influence dolphin stranding risk, and their implications for flow management in the Ghaghara–Sharada river basin.
Not a white girl and speaking English with slang: Negotiating Hmong American identities in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Authors: Ito Rika
Published: August 2020

This paper analyzes metalinguistic comments of two young Hmong Americans in the Minneapolis-St Paul area regarding their identity negotiation using tactics of intersubjectivity (Bucholtz & Hall 2004a, 2004b, 2005), the notion of brought-along identity (Williams 2008) and Zhang's (2017) sociohistorical perspectives in analyzing linguistic variation. Two Hmong American individuals were selected from over 60 Hmong American interviewees because their vowel production is nearly identical to each other and that of the local white youth. Although their almost identical vowel production is viewed as their acculturation to the local white majority norm in the first- and second-wave variationist sociolinguistic perspective (Eckert 2012), their speech's characterization reveals a range of potential meanings (Eckert 2008) to index nuanced and unique positions in their local community. The young woman is ambivalent about her speech being characterized as “not having an accent” and claims that she is “not a white girl”. The teenage boy discusses his speech as “Hmonglish” and “English with slang” but carefully distances himself from quintessential African American English. While their characterization of their speech is distinct from each other, their tactics are strikingly similar. Through highlighting and downplaying differences and similarities to a locally salient way of speaking that indexes whiteness or blackness, the two Hmong Americans carve out their own complex identities of race, ethnicity, gender, and class in a local setting.
Thermoelectric nanospectroscopy for the imaging of molecular fingerprints
Authors: Ulrich Georg , Pfitzner Emanuel , Hoehl Arne , Liao Jung-Wei , Zadvorna Olga , Schweicher Guillaume , Sirringhaus Henning , Heberle Joachim , Kästner Bernd , Wunderlich Jörg , Venkateshvaran Deepak
Published: August 2020

We present a nanospectroscopic device platform allowing simple and spatially resolved thermoelectric detection of molecular fingerprints of soft materials. Our technique makes use of a locally generated thermal gradient converted into a thermoelectric photocurrent that is read out in the underlying device. The thermal gradient is generated by an illuminated atomic force microscope tip that localizes power absorption onto the sample surface. The detection principle is illustrated using a concept device that contains a nanostructured strip of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) defined by electron beam lithography. The platform’s capabilities are demonstrated through a comparison between the spectrum obtained by on-chip thermoelectric nanospectroscopy with a nano-FTIR spectrum recorded by scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy at the same position. The subwavelength spatial resolution is demonstrated by a spectral line scan across the edge of the PMMA layer.