bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Communicational Dimension for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Organization
Authors: Pereira Ana Cristina Cypriano , de Abreu Figueiró Gabriel
Published: March 2020

This article aims to identify the communication processes existing between organizations and their workers with disabilities, discussing the importance of building accessible relationships and the role of communication in the inclusion of these subjects in the work environment. Given the importance of the subject of the social and professional development of people with disabilities and for the construction of a more inclusive society, a research is proposed that points out the contributions that a communication professional, especially in public relations, can bring as a result of the exercise of their activity in the process of inclusion of these subjects within the organizations. For the accomplishment of this work, a case study was developed with two organizations that already have inclusion programs established. From the results obtained, one can perceive the existence of spaces of social exclusion even in inclusive processes and the importance of the use of assistive solutions as tools that help the construction of accessible communication within the organizations, in order to provide greater professional development and of the subjects with disabilities.
Multimedia somos todos
Authors: Abad Luis Ángel
Published: March 2020

Luis Ángel Abad, autor de las obras Mitos e industria cultural y Rock contra cultura, explica en el artículo del mes cómo el fenómeno Youtube ha supuesto un cambio de paradigma en la música. Del estatus de estrella explotado por MTV hemos pasado a un modelo horizontal de creación colectiva, que reactiva el concepto multimedia.
Manual de Introducción a GIMP
Authors: Marín Antoni
Published: March 2020

El retoque fotográfico constituye una tarea que a parte de ser propia de una profesión se generaliza cada vez más a numerosas tareas profesionales así como también al público en general. Las cámaras digitales y la edición gráfica mediante el ordenador son factores claves que explican la divulgación de los procedimientos fotográficos. El abanico de posibilidades de uso van desde la impresión a la visualización en pantalla, ya provenga ésta de un soporte óptico o de la web.

Este tutorial nos presenta Gimp, una buena alternativa gratuita y para todos los públicos a los programas profesionales de edición de imagen de pago, pues permite de un modo sencillo y visual acceder a lo más básico del retoque fotográfico, así como acceder a la manipulación del color.
The concept of “Healthy Cities” and health-saving behavior of urban population: sociological analysis
Authors: Koval'zhina Larisa Sergeevna
Published: March 2020

This article presents analysis of concept and objectives of World Health Organization initiative “Healthy Cities”, developed in accordance with the Future Earth 2025 Vision. Attention is focused on the relevant documents and basic conceptual principles of the project. The WHO European Healthy Cities Network along with the peculiarities of Russian project are described. The author provides a forecast of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Human Wellbeing regarding the improvement of sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing of the population.  The article discusses the results of sampling observation of behavioral factors affecting public health conducted by the Russian Federal State Statistics Service in 2013, 2018, 2019; as well as fragment of the sociological survey results carried out by the author in 2013 and 2017 among the school and university students of Tyumen Region. The scientific novelty is associated with result acquired by the author from the analysis of secondary empirical data; as well as the formulated conclusions on the relevance of comprehensive approach towards preservation of health of urban population, need for creating equal access of all population groups to quality infrastructure, as well as prevention, diagnostics, treatment of diseases alongside restoration, preservation and improvement of health. It is recommended to use international and Russian experience of “Healthy Cities” initiatives for encouraging health-saving behavior of urban population, and development similar project “Healthy Village” for rural population.
Analysis of formation of the environment of the Orthodox rehabilitation centers
Authors: Kozyrenko Sergei Mikhailovich , Babenko Sergei Nikolaevich
Published: March 2020

The subject of this research is presented by the peculiarities of formation of special environment contributing to active rehabilitation of the addicts and their return to society. The study is dedicated to the impact of spatial and object environment of the Orthodox retreats upon those who desire to get free from addictions, and how it becomes an environment for active psychotherapy. The amount of Orthodox rehabilitation centers grows each year, so is the number of addicts who voluntarily choose the retreats for rehabilitation in the ascetic living conditions. The scientific novelty consists in viewing the Orthodox rehabilitation centers as a conceptual environment, encouraging the addicts to recovery. Religious experience of drastic changes in person’s life as a result of his functional isolation as an addict, and living in a conceptually arranged environment, creates motivation to recovery. The research offers a review of specialized rehabilitation centers that reproduce the characteristics of Orthodox settlements of secluded type. The nature of design solution, formed as a sacredly important visual text of an Orthodox monastery/settlement, is considered as determining the worldview values and capable of shifting the idea of repentance and further revival in faith, which reveals the semantic constructs of the design [1]. The main conclusions lies in the fact that the impact of architectural environment upon the emotional state and behavior of a person allows considering the practice of Orthodox seclusion productive for overcoming the crisis states of the people defined as a result of chronic alcohol consumption and stimulants.
The Mental Life of Modernism
Authors: Keyser Samuel Jay
Published: March 2020

An argument that Modernism is a cognitive phenomenon rather than a cultural one.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, poetry, music, and painting all underwent a sea change. Poetry abandoned rhyme and meter; music ceased to be tonally centered; and painting no longer aimed at faithful representation. These artistic developments have been attributed to cultural factors ranging from the Industrial Revolution and the technical innovation of photography to Freudian psychoanalysis. In this book, Samuel Jay Keyser argues that the stylistic innovations of Western modernism reflect not a cultural shift but a cognitive one. Behind modernism is the same cognitive phenomenon that led to the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century: the brain coming up against its natural limitations.

Keyser argues that the transformation in poetry, music, and painting (the so-called sister arts) is the result of the abandonment of a natural aesthetic based on a set of rules shared between artist and audience, and that this is virtually the same cognitive shift that occurred when scientists abandoned the mechanical philosophy of the Galilean revolution. The cultural explanations for Modernism may still be relevant, but they are epiphenomenal rather than causal. Artists felt that traditional forms of art had been exhausted, and they began to resort to private formats—Easter eggs with hidden and often inaccessible meaning. Keyser proposes that when artists discarded their natural rule-governed aesthetic, it marked a cognitive shift; general intelligence took over from hardwired proclivity. Artists used a different part of the brain to create, and audiences were forced to play catch up.
The Science of Bureaucracy
Authors: Demortain David
Published: March 2020

How the US Environmental Protection Agency designed the governance of risk and forged its legitimacy over the course of four decades.

The US Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970 to protect the public health and environment, administering and enforcing a range of statutes and programs. Over four decades, the EPA has been a risk bureaucracy, formalizing many of the methods of the scientific governance of risk, from quantitative risk assessment to risk ranking.

Demortain traces the creation of these methods for the governance of risk, the controversies to which they responded, and the controversies that they aroused in turn. He discusses the professional networks in which they were conceived; how they were used; and how they served to legitimize the EPA. Demortain argues that the EPA is structurally embedded in controversy, resulting in constant reevaluation of its credibility and fueling the evolution of the knowledge and technologies it uses to produce decisions and to create a legitimate image of how and why it acts on the environment. He describes the emergence and institutionalization of the risk assessment–risk management framework codified in the National Research Council's Red Book, and its subsequent unraveling as the agency's mission evolved toward environmental justice, ecological restoration, and sustainability, and as controversies over determining risk gained vigor in the 1990s.

Through its rise and fall at the EPA, risk decision-making enshrines the science of a bureaucracy that learns how to make credible decisions and to reform itself, amid constant conflicts about the environment, risk, and its own legitimacy.

The open access edition of this book was made possible by generous funding from the MIT Libraries.
Finding sense in the context
Authors: Keeling Kim M , Bedwell David M
Published: March 2020

Ribosomal profiling has shed new light on how ribosomes can ignore stop codons in messenger RNA.
Transition to Parenthood and Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Raouna Aigli , Schwannauer Matthias , MacBeth Angus
Published: March 2020

The birth of the first child - often referred to as transition to parenthood - is an important and often joyful life event, however, for women with pre-existing severe mental illnesses (such as bipolar disorder) and their partners, it can also be a time of heightened psychosocial distress and complex decision-making. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the decision-making process, information and support needs as experienced by women with bipolar disorder and their partners in each stage of their journey from pre-conception to the early postnatal period. Data will be collected and analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Up to 20 interviews will be conducted in the UK with women diagnosed with bipolar disorder before becoming mothers (up to n=10) and/or their partners (up to n=10) with a first child under 5 years old. Findings of this project, guided by the voices of those with lived experiences, would provide additional information for future service design, perinatal mental health policy, and clinical practice suited to the needs of the individuals who use them.
Legal document similarity: a multi-criteria decision-making perspective
Authors: Wagh Rupali S. , Anand Deepa
Published: March 2020

The vast volume of documents available in legal databases demands effective information retrieval approaches which take into consideration the intricacies of the legal domain. Relevant document retrieval is the backbone of the legal domain. The concept of relevance in the legal domain is very complex and multi-faceted. In this work, we propose a novel approach of concept based similarity estimation among court judgments. We use a graph-based method, to identify prominent concepts present in a judgment and extract sentences representative of these concepts. The sentences and concepts so mined are used to express/visualize likeness among concepts between a pair of documents from different perspectives. We also propose to aggregate the different levels of matching so obtained into one measure quantifying the level of similarity between a judgment pair. We employ the ordered weighted average (OWA) family of aggregation operators for obtaining the similarity value. The experimental results suggest that the proposed approach of concept based similarity is effective in the extraction of relevant legal documents and performs better than other competing techniques. Additionally, the proposed two-level abstraction of similarity enables informative visualization for deeper insights into case relevance.
The Quality of Financial Reporting and Internal Control System before and after the Implementation of E-budgeting in Indonesia Local Government
Authors: Setyawan Wahyu , Gamayuni Rindu Rika
Published: March 2020

This study aims to determine differences in the quality of financial reporting of local governments in Indonesia before and after implementation of the e-budgeting system and government internal control systems in the preparation and management of regional finances that are measured from the achievement of the Unqualified Opinion from the Audit Report of the Supreme Audit Board (LHP BPK) on the Local Government Financial Report (LKPD). The population of this research is all 542 local governments in Indonesia with a sample of research the local government in Indonesia that has implemented e-budgeting from 2017 until 2018. This research method is a quantitative empirical research method using secondary data with data analysis using an Independent sample T-test using SPSS 23 software.

The results of testing the hypothesis with a Independent Sample T-test using the SPSS 23 software indicate that there are significant differences between regions that have implemented e-budgeting system to the quality of its financial reporting with t value of 8.287 with 0.000 level of significance. Local governments that have implemented an e-budgeting have been able to obtain Unqualified opinions of 105 local Governments or around 96%, while the remaining 4 local governments have not been able to achieve Unqualified opinions or around 4%. While the average value of the quality of local government financial reporting that has not implemented e-budgeting with a score that is, 1.7354 were able to obtain Unqualified opinions of 284 local Governments or around 66%, while the remaining 149 local governments were only able to obtain Non Unqualified opinions or around 34%. 

The results of hypothesis testing with different T-test also showed that there was a significant difference between the average value of the quality of financial reporting of local governments that obtained Unqualified opinion with SPIP score of 2.4890, namely 367 local governments or about 92%, while the remaining 34 local governments have not been able to reach the Unqualified opinion or around 8%. While the average quality of the financial reporting of local governments that have an effective SPIP score of 1.7035 or at the SPIP pilot stage is only 22 local governments or around 16% capable of obtaining Unqualified opinion, while the remaining 119 local governments have not been able to achieve Unqualified opinion or around 84% with t value of 14,036 with 0.000 level of significance.
Review: Rice Blast Disease
Authors: Shahriar Saleh Ahmed , Imtiaz Abdullah All , Hossain Md. Belal , Husna Asmaul , Eaty Most. Nurjahan Khatun
Published: March 2020

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea is the major damaging disease in nearly all rice growing nations. Economically relevance with 60 percent of total population of world depending on rice as the main source of calories, may have destructive effects of the disease, however, this pathogen has developed into a pioneering model system for researching host-pathogen interactions. The disease outbreak depends on the weather and climatic conditions of the various regions. The disease's occurrence and symptoms vary from country to country. Susceptible cultivars cause huge rice production loss in yield. The principal cause of resistance breakdown in rice against rice blast disease is pathogenic variability. During sexual hybridization, pathogenic changes may provide evidence of pathogenic variation found at the asexual stage of the fungus. The virulent pathotypes cause severe disease incidence. Only through pathogenicity research the pathotypes can be determined using a collection of different rice varieties that are usually different carrying various resistance genes. Rice breeders now have a number of resistant genes however, most of the breeding programs emphasized upon monogenic resistance. Genetic heterogeneity of M. grisea should be taken into account when screening blast resistant rice genotypes through morphological analysis, pathogenicity and molecular characterization. Knowledge on the virulence of the rice blast and host resistant is essential for managing the disease. Cultivation of resistant varieties with chemical control is highly effective against blast pathogens.
Bio-efficacy of Certain Chemicals against Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Authors: Roy Archi , Rizvi Parvez Qamar
Published: March 2020

Asiatic citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is identified as a major pest of citrus in subtropical and tropical Asia. Citrus greening disease or Huanglongbing (HLB) is found to be the most serious disease of citrus in the world, causing the highest economic loss. Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is the only known vector of Huanglongbing. Intensive insecticide programs against Asian Citrus Psyllid are generally ineffective for preventing the introduction and spread of Huanglongbing, especially in new plantings. Extensive pesticide applications are causing psyllid resistance and probably damage to bees and beneficial insects. So, it is important to devise Integrated Pest Management schemes that minimize the amount of pesticides applied, especially neonicotinoids and other broad-spectrum materials. An integrated strategy involving both  biological and chemical control tactics is required for sustainable management of the pest to reduce disease spread. Some biological agents which control the D. citri such as lady beetles, lacewings and spiders are all well known as predators. Therefore, the present investigation had been aimed to study the biology and efficacy of various chemicals, both, solely and in combination, viz., Bifenthrin, Lambda cyhalothrin, Azadirachtin (neem oil), Cypermethrin + Profenofos, Deltamethrin + Triazophos and Quinalphos under laboratory conditions against D. citri as management strategies of an insect pest must be based on thorough ecological studies of the concerned insect pest.
Molecular Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum Chloroquine Resistance Transporter Genes among School Children in Kwara State, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Oluwasogo A. O. , Ismail H. O. , Pelumi D. A.
Published: March 2020

Background: Plasmodium falciparum existence continues to develop resistance to conventional antimalaria drugs in malaria endemic areas. Plasmodia often prevent drugs from interacting with the target site, hence, developing resistance to antimalaria drugs. Mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt), are the major determinant of chloroquine resistance in human malaria parasite.

Methodology: Malaria infection, Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes of isolates among school students within the age range of 11-22 years from four selected rural communities of Kwara state were studied. One hundred and eighty seven subjects (187) were selected for the study. Blood samples were collected by finger prick method for malaria screening. Nested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were done to detect alleles of pfcrt at codon 76 and pfmdr1 at codon 86. DNA of isolates was appropriately extracted from the filter paper blots using the methanol fixation method. Logistic regression was performed on the binary observations obtained while linear regression was conducted on the fifty (50) subjects that tested positive to malaria.

Results: Out of 187 subjects screened, 26.7% (50) were positive to P. falciparum. Highest malaria parasite count of 36.4% was recorded in 14-16 years age group while 20-22 years age group had the least malaria parasite count (15.4%). The result of the studied isolates indicated that out of 50 isolates analyzed for Pfcrt gene, wild type alleles accounted for 32% (16) while mutant alleles accounted for 68% (34). Alakuko Community accounted for the least number of T76 mutant alleles 10% (5) while Apado community recorded the highest number of T76 mutant gene 22% (11). For Pfmdr1 gene analysis at codon 86, isolates from Apado community showed the highest mutant type alleles (Y86) of 22% (11), while Igbonla community in Ifelodun local government had the least mutant alleles, 6% (3).

Conclusion: The overall result revealed existence of mutant alleles in both the Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes which was higher than the wild type gene in both cases. The presence of chloroquine resistance genes among the studied population implies that alternative antimalaria drugs should be designed by pharmaceutical industry.
Phenotypic Characterization of Dioscorea burkilliana J. Miège (Dioscoreaceae) Genetic Resources
Authors: Gbadamosi I. T. , Abberton M. , Igwe A. C. , Soyode F. , Olawuyi O. J.
Published: March 2020

Aims: This study investigated morphological characterization of eighty accessions of Dioscorea burkilliana obtained from the Genetic Resources Center of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria. 

Study Design and Methods: The experimental field was laid out in a complete randomized design with three replicates on plots of 10 meters length spaced at one meter between rows and one meter within rows (10 m x 1 m x 1 m).

Results: The evaluation of nine qualitative and six quantitative traits revealed phenotypic variations in D. burkilliana accessions using IPGRI’s descriptors. The mature stem colour of spot at spine base (MSCSSB) had the highest mean of 61.73 cm, while young stem with absence or presence of scale leaves (YSA/PSL) had least value of 0.37 cm. The principal component analysis (PCA) produced the highest eigenvector of 3.122 for Prin 1 with highest proportion of 20.81%, while Prin 15 had the least (0.11%). Also, in Prin 1, the mature leaf petiole at base (MLP A), mature leaf petiole at middle ( MLP B) and mature leaf petiole at top (MLP C) were closely related compared to matured leaf measurement  MLM-Breadth A, MLM-Breadth B and MSA-PCS. There was positive and strong relationship between mature leaf petiole at base (MLP-A) with mature leaf petiole at middle (MLP-B) (r = 0.84, p< 0.005) and mature leaf petiole at top (MLP-C) (r = 0.75). The dendrogram was delineated into seven cluster groups in which cluster V had 18 accessions which was the highest, while cluster VI had the least with one accession (DbB 222).

Conclusion: The strong positive associations among MLP-A, MLP-B and MLP-C as well as MSS SAB and MSA/PCS suggested the consideration of these traits for future breedings. Accessions DbB 83, DbB 140 and DbB 254 could be recommended as parent material for the improvement of Discorea burkilliana.
Normative Orthodontic Treatment Need of Nigerian Adolescents – A Comparative Study of Three Major Ethnic Groups
Authors: Etim S. S. , Aikins E. A. , Onyeaso C. O.
Published: March 2020

Objective: This study was carried out to assess and compare the normative orthodontic treatment need of adolescents aged 12 to 16 years from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Methods: The study population comprised one thousand, four hundred and forty-nine (1449) adolescents selected from nine public schools within nine Local Government Areas from three (3) selected states (Lagos, Kano, Imo) in Nigeria. Randomization based on multistage sampling technique was used to determine the selected participants. Consent and assent forms were duly completed and signed by parents and participants respectively. Participants’ parents were from the same ethnic group. Oral examination of the participants was done and their normative treatment need assessed following the standard protocols of Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need. (ICON) Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.0. Descriptive, as well as parametric (ANOVA) and non-parametric (Chi-square) statistical analyses were conducted.

Results: Normative (objective) orthodontic treatment need was observed in 27.7%, 31.5% and 42.8% of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba adolescents, respectively. The mean ICON scores recorded were for Hausa, 33.0±16.1 (SD), 32.1 ± 16.6 (SD) for Igbo and 34.8 ± 16.2 (SD) for the Yoruba, with a statistically significant difference noted among the groups. The mean scores were 33.9 ± 16.2 for males and 32.8 ± 16.4 for females while the combined population mean was 33.4 ±16.3. The males had more orthodontic treatment need than the females in the combined population.

Conclusion: Yoruba adolescents statistically had the greatest normative orthodontic treatment need while Igbo adolescents had the least among the three major Nigerian tribes.
Hydrocarbon Reservoir Characterization of ‘UDI’ Field, Western Niger Delta
Authors: Osuya N. E. , Ayorinde J. O.
Published: March 2020

The increasing demand for petroleum products has posed a challenge to the search for oil and gas. This search for hydrocarbon has developed due to advances in computational techniques to evaluate the probability of hydrocarbon proneness of a basin, thereby limiting the risk factor associated with hydrocarbon. This study was therefore designed to assess the hydrocarbon potential and generate a static reservoir model of UDI Field, Onshore Niger Delta.

Well, the correlation was carried out to establish stratigraphic continuity of the reservoir sand bodies. The identified potential reservoir intervals were tied to the seismic data using available check shot survey data. With a good match achieved, seismic events were interpreted through paying attention to reflection continuity, amplitude and frequency. Interpreted horizons were converted to surfaces using a convergent interpolation algorithm. Faults within the Field showed a dominant East-West trend with two (2) major faults and five (5) minor ones. A Pixel-based facies model was built based on the normal distribution of the upscaled lithofacies log using the Sequential Indicator Simulation algorithm. Petrophysical models were built by constraining the petrophysical logs to the facies models using Sequential Gaussian simulation algorithm. 

Four potential reservoir intervals, A100, A125, A150 and A200 were delineated. Average petrophysical parameters were computed for all the four intervals and the results revealed the reservoir intervals to be of good quality. Sand A100 has the highest average porosity value of 29.4%, while Sand A200 has the lowest value of 25.3%. Net-to-gross ratio also follows the pattern of decreasing value with depth. Sand A150 has the highest average gross thickness value, 170.4 m, while Sand A200 has the least thickness of 80.5 m. The net-to-gross ratio preserved the pattern of gross thickness and this resulted in Sand A150 still having the highest Net thickness and Sand A200 having the least Net sand thickness. The relatively large net sand thicknesses, high net-to-gross ratio values and the high porosity values all support the reservoir intervals within UDI Field to be of good quality.

Extrapolations of reservoir properties away from good control honored the geological interpretation of reservoir Sand A125 thereby reducing the subsurface reservoir uncertainties.

The availability of pressure data of the reservoir will help in establishing whether the reservoir is compartmentalized and hence the model can be updated to accommodate the effect of compartmentalization.
Design of 22KW LPG Burner for an Oil Refinery Boiler
Authors: Kinigoma B. S. , Ani G. O.
Published: March 2020

The oil refining process is energy-intensive since every aspect of the process consumes energy. The need to minimize energy consumption when raising steam in boilers using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) burner was the focus of this study, to proffer techniques for improving optimum thermal efficiency via proper burner design and positioning. Burner design models were utilized to evaluate parameters for optimum combustion, to deliver the expected thermal output, including thermal efficiency. The results of this study suggest that, to design a 22KW LPG burner for an oil refinery boiler, the optimum values estimated for the burner parameters for efficient combustion at a gas flow rate of 1.89x10-4m3/sec, including Wobbe Index (83285.7KJ/m3), size of burner nozzle (1.9 mm), gas supply pressure (0.80 psi), length of burner slot for air entrainment (137.61 mm), size of burner pipe (46.48 mm), total orifice diameter (400.53 mm), and number of 3 mm. Studies elsewhere also suggest that if a proper angle between the burner axis and the boiler surface is achieved, significant changes in the amount of gas used can results positively in the direction of fuel utilization efficiency, thereby saving the cost of steam production in an LPG fired refinery boiler.
Clinical characteristics of Taiwanese patients with Hereditary spastic paraplegia type 5
Authors: Chou Cheng‐Ta , Soong Bing‐Wen , Lin Kon‐Ping , Tsai Yu‐Shuen , Jih Kang‐Yang , Liao Yi‐Chu , Lee Yi‐Chung
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To investigate the clinical, electrophysiological, neuroimaging characteristics and genetic features of SPG5 in Taiwan.

Methods

Mutational analysis of the coding regions of CYP7B1 was performed by utilizing targeted resequencing analysis of the 187 unrelated Taiwanese HSP patients. The diagnosis of SPG5 was ascertained by the presence of biallelic CYP7B1 mutations. The SPG5 patients received clinical, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging evaluations. Disease severity was assessed by using the Spastic Paraplegia Rating Scale (SPRS) and the disability score. Two microsatellite markers as well as 18 single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers flanking CYP7B1 were genotyped to assess the founder effect of the CYP7B1 p.R112* mutation.

Results

Nineteen SPG5 patients from 17 families were identified. They typically presented an insidious onset progressive spastic paraparesis with proprioception involvement beginning at age 8 to 40 years. Their MRIs often showed white matter abnormalities in bilateral occipito‐parietal regions, spinal cord atrophy, and mild cerebellar atrophy. Six different mutations in CYP7B1 were recognized, including three novel ones (p.N131Ifs*4, p.A295V, and p.L439R). CYP7B1 p.R112* was the most common mutation and present in 88.2% of the 17 SPG5 pedigrees. The patients with homozygous CYP7B1 p.R112* mutations had a milder clinical severity. Detailed haplotype analyses demonstrated a shared haplotype in the 25 individuals carrying at least one single allele of CYP7B1 p.R112*, suggesting a founder effect.

Interpretation

This study delineates the distinct clinical and genetic features of SPG5 in Taiwan and provides useful information for the diagnosis and management of SPG5, especially in patients of Chinese descent.
Fluorescence‐Based Quantification of Messenger RNA and Plasmid DNA Decay Kinetics in Extracellular Biological Fluids and Cell Extracts
Authors: Zhang Heyang , Rombouts Koen , Raes Laurens , Xiong Ranhua , De Smedt Stefaan C. , Braeckmans Kevin , Remaut Katrien
Published: March 2020

Extracellular and intracellular degradation of nucleic acids remains an issue in non‐viral gene therapy. Understanding biodegradation is critical for the rational design of gene therapeutics in order to maintain stability and functionality at the target site. However, there are only limited methods available that allow determining the stability of genetic materials in biological environments. In this context, the decay kinetics of fluorescently labeled plasmid DNA (pDNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) in undiluted biological samples (i.e., human serum, human ascites, bovine vitreous) and cell extracts is studied using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and single particle tracking (SPT). It is demonstrated that FCS is suitable to follow mRNA degradation, while SPT is better suited to investigate pDNA integrity. The half‐life of mRNA and pDNA is ≈1–2 min and 1–4 h in biological samples, respectively. The resistance against biodegradation drastically improves by complexation with lipid‐based carriers. Taken together, FCS and SPT are able to quantify the integrity of mRNA and pDNA, respectively, as a function of time, both in the extracellular biological fluids and cell extracts. This in turn allows to focus on the important but less understood issue of nucleic acids degradation in more detail and to rationally optimize gene delivery system as therapeutics.
Spontaneous Adsorption of Graphene Oxide to Oil–Water and Air–Water Interfaces by Adsorption of Hydrotropes
Authors: Turpin Geosmin A. , Holt Stephen A. , Scofield Joel M. P. , Teo Boon M. , Tabor Rico F.
Published: March 2020

The interfacial adsorption of graphene oxide (GO) is crucial in phenomena such as emulsification and froth flotation, where presence of 2D nanomaterials facilitates Pickering stabilization. This process usually requires the input of high amounts of shear energy, or is aided by surfactants in order to make it possible at room temperature. In this work, a surfactant‐free method for interfacial enrichment through the use of a family of tetraalkylammonium hydrotropes, the most effective being tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC), is demonstrated. As both GO and hydrotropes do not spontaneously enrich to interfaces on their own, this synergistic, spontaneous effect highlights that hydrotropes adsorb to GO sheets, decreasing their negative charge while rendering them more amphiphilic and therefore making it thermodynamically favorable for them to adsorb to the interface. Evidence for this adsorption includes increases in surface pressure, as well as emulsion and froth stability when both GO and hydrotropes are present in a system. Hydrotropes perform as well as or better than surfactants. Adsorption is irreversible, with XRR and AFM studies demonstrating that roughness increases with compression of the air‐water interface, showing that GO sheets are crumpling at the interface rather than desorbing, providing new routes to patterned and structured GO layers.
Titanium as an Instant Adhesive for Biological Soft Tissue
Authors: Okada Masahiro , Hara Emilio Satoshi , Yabe Atsushi , Okada Kei , Shibata Yo , Torii Yasuhiro , Nakano Takayoshi , Matsumoto Takuya
Published: March 2020

A variety of polymer‐ and ceramic‐based soft‐tissue adhesives have been developed as alternatives to surgical sutures, yet several disadvantages regarding the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and handling hinder their further application particularly when applied for immobilization of implantable devices. Here, it is reported that a biocompatible and tough metal, titanium (Ti), shows instant and remarkable adhesion properties after acid treatment, demonstrated by ex vivo shear adhesion tests with mouse dermal tissues. Importantly, in vivo experiments demonstrate that the acid‐treated Ti can easily and stably immobilize a device implanted in the mouse subcutaneous tissue. Collectively, the acid‐treated Ti is shown as a solid‐state instant adhesive material for biological soft tissues, which can have diverse applications including immobilization of body‐implantable devices.
Hexahedral LED Arrays with Row and Column Control Lines Formed by Selective Liquid‐Phase Plasticization and Nondisruptive Tucking‐Based Origami
Authors: Kim Gi‐Gwan , Kim Yeongmin , Yoo Seonggwang , Jang Hun Soo , Ko Heung Cho
Published: March 2020

Origami/kirigami of flexible electronics is a promising way to produce 3D electronics because well‐developed silicon‐based technologies can be used for the planar circuitry layout. However, it is still a challenge to enable general row and column control lines to develop 3D addressable sensory and display systems. This study addresses this issue via selective plasticization of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) film with N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) through polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels. The use of DMF provides plasticization in a controllable manner because of the fast absorption of the DMF in the liquid phase during the plasticization process, a prolonged retention time of DMF in the ABS film at room temperature during the transformation process, and fast desorption at 60– 80 °C for the deplasticization process. The use of microfluidic channels allows high‐resolution selective plasticization to enable extreme cases of local bending or even folding inward and outward, thereby enabling tucking‐based origami with no crack generation. The lamination of membrane‐type electronic devices to an ABS film followed by selective plasticization and transformation enables nondisruptive tucking‐based origami at the electronics level, such as for the demonstration of a hexahedral light‐emitting diode (LED) array with general row and column control lines.
Controlling for selective dropout in longitudinal dementia data: Application to the SveDem registry
Authors: Handels Ron , Jönsson Linus , Garcia‐Ptacek Sara , Eriksdotter Maria , Wimo Anders
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Loss to follow‐up in dementia studies is common and related to cognition, which worsens over time. We aimed to (1) describe dropout and missing cognitive data in the Swedish dementia registry, SveDem; (2) identify factors associated with dropout; and (3) estimate propensity scores and use them to adjust for dropout.

Methods

Longitudinal cognitive data were obtained from 53,880 persons from the SveDem national quality dementia registry. Inverse probability of censoring weights (IPCWs) were estimated using a logistic regression model on dropout.

Results

The mean annualized rate of change in Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) in those with a low MMSE (0 to 10) was likely underestimated in the complete case analysis (+1.5 points/year) versus the IPCW analysis (−0.3 points/year).

Discussion

Handling dropout by IPCWs resulted in plausible estimates of cognitive decline. This method is likely of value to adjust for biased dropout in longitudinal cohorts of dementia.
Preparation and performance analysis of polypropylene fiber‐reinforced concrete composite
Authors: Dong Hong
Published: March 2020

The existing single concrete composite material mainly consists of sand, cement and water reducer, thus having poor anti‐freeze and anti‐collision capacities. In this study, polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete composite is prepared by adding polypropylene fiber into composite material. Therefore, the polypropylene fiber added to the concrete method of composite materials There are two methods of adding polypropylene fiber, i.e. adding polypropylene fiber first and polypropylene fiber later, and the fiber distributions of as‐prepared polypropylene fiber concrete composites under two method were compared. In this work, the method of adding polypropylene fiber first was selected.The amount of allocation of strength in the process of operationBy selecting the cement, aggregate and polypropylene fiber materials needed for the preparation of polypropylene fiber composites, and calculating the strength, water‐binder ratio, the amounts of polypropylene fiber and water‐reducing agents in the process of configuration, polypropylene fiber concrete composites is successfully prepared in this work.The experimental results show that the concrete composite made of polypropylene fiber has a high improvement in the antifreezing and anti‐collision ability.
Plasma‐polymerized cyclohexane coatings for ethanol and ammonia vapors sensing
Authors: Antony Ananth , Seo Hyeon Jin , Boo Jin‐Hyo
Published: March 2020

In this study, plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition of cyclohexane thin films was prepared for application towards ethanol and ammonia vapor sensing between the range 100 and 1,000 ppm. The deposited film exhibited stable, uniform coating and smooth surface morphology with minor surface roughness. The thickness of the coatings was 40–46 nm. The gas‐sensing behavior against the experimental parameters such as coating thickness, operating temperature, and gas concentration was investigated. It was noted that increasing the coating thickness reduced the sensor's electrical conductivity. Increment in the operating temperature from 75°C to 100°C increased the sensor performance linearly. The ethanol and ammonia concentration effects were mainly influenced by the above two factors. The results demonstrated that the cyclohexane thin films can be used to fabricate low‐cost gas sensors in addition to its conventional use as a low dielectric material.
A combined differential scanning calorimetry‐dynamic mechanical thermal analysis approach for the estimation of constrained phases in thermoplastic polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Soudmand Behzad H. , Shelesh‐Nezhad Karim , Salimi Yaghob
Published: March 2020

Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) nanocomposites reinforced with different weight fractions of montmorillonite (MMT), and nanoprecipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) were prepared by a two‐step melt compounding method. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses were employed to explore the effect of nanofiller inclusion on the crystalline structure of PBT nanocomposites. The mobile amorphous fraction (MAF) and the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) were first measured using the specific heat capacity (Cp) and melting enthalpy data. However, the contributors to total RAF, including interfacial RAF (RAFint) and crystalline RAF (RAFc), could not be discerned using only DSC. A novel and simple method was hence developed by employing a combined DSC‐dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) approach (CDDA) to disentangle the RAF components and determine the fractions of constrained volume constituents. To validate the results, the MAF calculated by CDDA were compared to those of DSC. The values obtained using CDDA were relatively higher, owing to the more significant sensitivity of this approach to polymer chain mobility.
Electronic Finetuning of a Bio‐inspired Iron(II) tetra‐NHC Complex by trans Axial Isocyanide Substitution
Authors: Schlagintweit Jonas F. , Hintermeier Carolin , Anneser Markus R. , Esslinger Eva‐Maria H. J. , Haslinger Stefan , Kühn Fritz E.
Published: March 2020

The synthesis of trans axially substituted mono‐ (1 a) and bis(tert‐butylisocyanide) (1 b) derivatives of the highly active homogeneous bio‐inspired iron(II) olefin epoxidation (pre‐)catalyst 1 bearing an equatorial macrocyclic tetra N‐heterocyclic carbene and two trans axial labile acetonitrile ligands is reported. NMR spectroscopy and SC‐XRD indicate a considerable π‐backdonation from the iron(II) centres to the isocyanide ligand(s). The impact of isocyanide substitution on the electronic features of the complexes is studied by cyclic voltammetry revealing a significant increase in half‐cell potential assignable to the reversible Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couple with an increasing number of isocyanides as a result of their π‐accepting properties: E1/2=0.15 V (1), E1/2=0.35 V (1 a), E1/2=0.44 V (1 b).
Formation of α‐synuclein aggregates in aqueous ethylammonium nitrate solutions
Authors: Takekiyo Takahiro , Yamada Natsuki , Nakazawa Chikako T. , Amo Taku , Asano Atsushi , Yoshimura Yukihiro
Published: March 2020

The effect of adding ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), which is an ionic liquid (IL), on the aggregate formation of α‐synuclein (α‐Syn) in aqueous solution has been investigated. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate changes in the secondary structure of α‐Syn and in the states of water molecules and EAN. The results presented here show that the addition of EAN to α‐Syn causes the formation of an intermolecular β‐sheet structure in the following manner: native disordered state → polyproline II (PPII)‐helix → intermolecular β‐sheet (α‐Syn amyloid‐like aggregates: α‐SynA). Although cations and anions of EAN play roles in masking the charged side chains and PPII‐helix‐forming ability involved in the formation of α‐SynA, water molecules are not directly related to its formation. We conclude that EAN‐induced α‐Syn amyloid‐like aggregates form at hydrophobic associations in the middle of the molecules after masking the charged side chains at the N‐ and C‐terminals of α‐Syn.
An idea to explore: Use of augmented reality for teaching three‐dimensional biomolecular structures
Authors: Peterson Celeste N. , Tavana Sara Z. , Akinleye Olukemi P. , Johnson Walter H. , Berkmen Melanie B.
Published: March 2020

Biology and biochemistry students must learn to visualize and comprehend the complex three‐dimensional (3D) structures of macromolecules such as proteins or DNA. However, most tools available for teaching biomolecular structures typically operate in two dimensions. Here, we present protocols and pedagogical approaches for using immersive augmented reality (AR) visors, specifically the Microsoft HoloLens, to reinforce learning with large scale 3D holographic structures. We developed a novel workflow to render vividly colored custom biomolecules in AR visors. In addition, we developed AR exercises to review concepts relevant to protein or DNA structure and then implemented the exercises in four different biology and biochemistry courses. Surveys showed that students reported greater interest in biomolecular structures after the exercise. We also highlight some of the advantages and disadvantages of the software and hardware of this upcoming technology.
IUBMB/PSBMB 2019 Conference/Plenary: Mentoring in postgraduate training and the role of Organization for PhD Education in Health Sciences in European System
Authors: Orer Hakan S.
Published: March 2020

A vibrant and sustainable research environment is essential to establish a thriving PhD program. Organization for PhD Education in Health Sciences in European System, a European platform to promote best practices in PhD education in health sciences, published a guideline entitled “Best Practices for PhD Training.” The guideline includes comprehensive recommendations and suggestions on different components of the PhD program, of which supervision is an essential one. A working supervisor–student relationship based on mutual respect, responsibility, and participation is essential for the success of a PhD thesis. Supervisors should be active researchers and receive training to develop their supervising skills. They serve as role models in academic life, both scientifically and ethically. The appointment of a co‐supervisor, besides the principal one, is strongly encouraged not only to increase the efficiency in monitoring the student progression but also to defuse interpersonal conflicts. Institutional regulations should include the duties and responsibilities of the supervisor. A contract prepared by the institution and signed by the supervisor and the student could help specify the task and may serve as a starting point. In case of a conflict, grievance mechanisms also need to be clear and explicit. Supervisors ought to assist the career development of the students and guide them to become independent researchers. Unfortunately, different surveys showed that there is widespread discontent among the students about their supervisors. Performance pressure on both students and supervisors create enormous tension. Students feel stressed about their career prospects. Institutional policies should consider these stress points to enhance the wellbeing of students as well as the faculty.