bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intellectual Capital, Members' Participation and Cooperative Performance: The Mediating Role of Management Capabilities
Authors: Ishak Suraiya , Che Omar Ahmad Raflis , Sum Sarmila Md , Ahmad Azhar , Awang Abd Hair , Othman Abdullah Sanusi
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this paper is to validate the mediating effect of management capability/capabilities (MC) on the relationships between intellectual capital (IC) and cooperative members’ participation (MP) and the cooperatives' financial and non-financial performance. The major aim is to examine the effect of MC in mediating the relationship between influential antecedents and cooperative performance - a topic that is relatively understudied in the literature. The study employs the survey technique to gather data from the respondents. Therefore, the questionnaire is designed to measure the indicators of the prescribed independent and dependent variables. The independent variables consist of MP and IC, which is further itemised into structural capital (SC), human capital (HC) and relational capital (RC), whilst the dependent variable consists of performance measured by financial and non-financial indicators. The questionnaires are distributed to 234 cooperatives that consist of palm oil smallholders cooperatives in Peninsular Malaysia. Among the targeted sample, 44% responded to the survey. The relationships between the characteristics of the Board of Directors and performance are validated through the partial least squares analysis. The findings indicate MC is a significant mediator in the relationships between IC and MP and cooperative performance. Furthermore, MC has been found to have a positive effect on the financial and non-financial performance of the cooperatives. IC and MP have indirect effects on cooperative performance. The ability to influence such a performance lies in the abilities of the management to optimise the benefits obtained from the SC, HC and RC and MP in the cooperative's activities.
Addressing Fragmentation and Inconsistency in International Environmental Law Analysis of the Role of Specialised or Treaty Judicial Bodies
Authors: Mvogo Dieudonne Mevono
Published: January 2021

This paper analyses the contribution of treaty or specialised judicial bodies to striking problems such as fragmentation and inconsistency within International Environmental Law (IEL) as they fill the gaps in IEL, taking advantage of the absence of an overarching International Environmental Court (IEC) and the indolence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It argues that by helping improve the ICJ, they will help resolve IEL's jurisprudential inconsistency and fragmentation. The paper therefore first explains the sense in which jurisprudential fragmentation and inconsistency underline IEL's compliance mechanisms, and shows the limits of the state-centripetal approach of the ICJ as a solution to such a problem. Finally, it proposes a state-centrifugal paradigm that stresses how international specialised judicial bodies may help strengthen the ICJ's fragmentation and inconsistency management functions. To propose this novel approach, this paper employs legal critical methods to expose current gaps in the state-centripetal approach.
The Effect of Swimming Training and Cinnamon Consumption on the Gene Expression of GLUT4 and Insulin Receptor in the Brown Adipose Tissue of Diabetic Rats
Authors: Karimi Fard Mojtaba , Khajehlandi Ali , Mohammadi Amin
Published: January 2021

Background: The effect of training on the gene expression of GLUT4 and insulin receptor (IR) has been investigated in some studies, but the simultaneous effect of swimming training along with cinnamon consumption is unknown. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of six weeks of swimming training with cinnamon consumption on the gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the brown adipose tissue of diabetic rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 28 diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups of seven animals, including 1- control (C), 2- cinnamon (Ci), 3- swimming (S), and 4- swimming plus cinnamon (S + Ci). Rats in groups 3 and 4 trained for six weeks and five sessions. Groups 2 and 4 received 200 mg/kg/day. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test at the level of P ≤ 0.05. Results: The gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the S, Ci, and S + Ci groups was significantly (P = 0.001) higher than the control group. Also, the gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the S group was significantly (P = 0.001) higher than the Ci and S + Ci groups. Conclusion: Swimming training and cinnamon consumption and their simultaneous implementation had a significant effect on increasing the gene expression of GLUT4 and IR in the brown adipose tissue of diabetic rats. On the other hand, swimming training alone had a greater effect than cinnamon consumption and swimming plus cinnamon consumption.
THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION: A CASE STUDY AT UNIVERSITY OF BALIKESIR IN TURKEY
Authors: TÜLÜBAŞ GÖKUÇ Yeliz
Published: January 2021

Today, the concept of sustainability is a very popular topic in the construction sector as in all areas of the industry. When the environmental impacts of the building life cycle are considered, the importance of this concept for this sector is seen more clearly. As in every education field, architectural education is also shaped according to the needs of the age. The differences between 2000s and today can be noticed when looking at the field of architecture that shifts in line with the needs of the age. Thus, necessary changes should be made in some disciplines such as architecture, interior architecture, civil engineering, city and regional planning and landscape architecture under the subject of sustainability. Architecture, which shapes the living spaces, has an enormous responsibility along with some other disciplines during the evolution of the occupational environmental awareness. It should be ensured with the university education that the undergraduate architecture students develop a mentality that pays attention to the concepts of ecology and sustainability, and enables skills to utilize renewable energy sources. This study aims to determine the awareness of students on sustainability. The data for this research is collected by conducting a survey at the Department of Architecture at the University of Balıkesir, and covers the senior students in the spring semester of 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years. This study emphasizes the concept of sustainability, and aims to determine how the architect candidates who will be implementers in the future interact with the concept of sustainability during their higher education. One of the results of the study shows that students do not have much knowledge about sustainable architecture, but they tend to take related courses. Another result of the study is that students should be directed to projects that emphasize sustainability in architectural design courses.
DATA JOURNALISM IN THE COVID-19 PERIOD: A DESCRIPTIONAL REVIEW OF CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Authors: FURUNCU KUTLUHAN Duygu , ZİNDEREN Aslıhan
Published: January 2021

This research focuses on the events of data journalism during Covid-19. Journalism is mainly carried out by data analysis in this period. In the context of the contextuality/relationality concept, data- driven stories and factually compiled knowledge serve an extremely important enlightenment role for the reader. The main aim of the study is to show how critical information is revealed and presented within the framework of the understanding of journalism by analyzing big data, and to show the value that the understanding of data journalism contributes to journalism in this context. For this purpose, sample news about the Covid-19 period produced by the data journalism process from the websites of the New York Times and The Guardian newspapers was selected for the analysis. Descriptive analysis method was used in the study whose conceptual framework was established through data journalism, news production processes in data journalism and visual storytelling. Data journalism, which involves multidisciplinary cooperation, has been evaluated in terms of both news production processes and visual storytelling. As a result of the study, it was observed that significant knowledge was brought to light by creating substantive relationships between the data, a transparent and accountable journalism approach was performed, and complicated quantitative data was presented in a clear and interesting form with effective visualization factors in this era, which is critical for society. The value of data journalism has been pointed out in this context, making the news efficient, understandable, relevant and verifiable on the basis of news production processes, and creating a new direction in today's understanding of journalism.
SUCCESS FACTORS FOR POST-DISASTER PERMANENT HOUSING: EXAMPLE OF TURKISH EARTHQUAKES
Authors: KÜRÜM VAROLGÜNEŞ Fatma
Published: January 2021

Investigating the social, economic and physical characteristics of settlements created after the disaster will raise awareness about reconstruction. In this study, firstly, a literature review was conducted in order to determine long-term satisfaction indicators for permanent housing use in resettlement areas. The data obtained are reduced and grouped with hierarchy and affinity diagrams. Qualitative data obtained from the literature were analyzed on nine settlements previously exposed to earthquakes in Turkey by model pairing and content analysis techniques. With this research, determining the indicators that affect long-term satisfaction (such as 50 years) will contribute to new research. As a result, it has been determined that the identity, lifestyle and employment opportunities of the victims are not taken into account in housing construction in Turkey in post-earthquake reconstruction. It was observed that most of the disaster housings built in the 50 years between 1970 and 2020 in Turkey do not carry the traces of the local texture. When the results of the study are examined, the importance of an approach that integrates environmental functions and socio-economic structure is seen in the creation of new residential areas. This holistic approach will ensure that community-based indicators are also included in the production of permanent housing. This study offers an important contribution in terms of determination of indicators influencing long-term satisfaction in resettlement programs by drawing attention to physical, social, cultural and economic factors in terms of permanent housings built after earthquakes in Turkey.
EVALUATION STUDY ON WOODEN PILLAR MOSQUES BUILT IN ANATOLIA IN THE 13TH CENTURY
Authors: KARAKUŞ Filiz
Published: January 2021

In this article, mosques that are carried on wooden poles, which have a very important place among Anatolian Seljuk and Principalities (Beyliks) Period mosques and covered with flat wooden roofs, are discussed. With the continuation of the wooden pillar mosque tradition in Central Asia, very important examples of this building type, which were brought to Anatolia by the Turks in the Anatolian Seljuk State Period, were revealed in the 13th century. In this study, Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque, Afyon Ulu Mosque, Ankara Arslanhane (Ahi Şerafettin Mosque) and Sivrihisar Ulu Mosque, which are the most magnificent examples of this building type, were investigated. After the archive and literature researches about these buildings were done, a catalog study of the buildings was made. Within the scope of this study, the formal features of the buildings such as plan, facade, construction technique, plan type, number of entrances, the presence of the last congregation and the presence of a gathered floor, the environmental relation, the spatial characteristics such as the carrier element and the architectural elements were examined. The aim of the article is to make a general inference on the wooden pillar mosques built in Anatolia in the 13th century in line with the data obtained from the studies and to determine the common aspects of wooden pillar mosques built in four different parts of Anatolia. In the light of the information obtained as a result of the catalog studies and archive scans, it has been observed that the structures have similar characteristics especially in terms of the materials and construction techniques used, but some of their features differ and take shape in line with the construction traditions of the places where they are located. Konya Sahipata Mosque, which was built in the 13th century, was excluded from the scope of the study, as its general characteristics were completely changed after the fire.
A REVIEW OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND PUBLIC SERVICE ADS
Authors: ULUĞ YURTTAŞ Özge
Published: January 2021

Coronavirus disease Covid-19, started affecting the world as of December 2019, and Turkey as of 2020. The disease became a global crisis threatening the whole world in the context of public health. All the countries made attempts on protecting the society and on informing the public in the right direction in the process of fighting against the disease. Public service advertising aiming to change the behavior of people and to attract attention on public issues gained specific importance among these attempts. Providing successful examples in many aspects such as combating social and public problems, raising awareness, and informing, public service advertisements managed to create an agenda at a level that cannot be ignored with the themes covered during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, the main subject of this study consists of public service advertisements with Covid-19 content. In the study, it was aimed to analyze the effectiveness of the public service advertisements published by the Ministry of Health of Turkey after detecting the first official case in our country in March 2020. Using the phenomenology method; the study group of the research consists of 8 male and 8 female volunteers between the ages of 25-65, and of undergraduate and postgraduate education level.
EXAMINATION OF THE DINING ROOM IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ATATURK MUSEUM MANSION IN TERMS OF INTERIOR AND FURNITURE
Authors: ANDAÇ GÜZEL Tuğba , EFE Hacı Hasan
Published: January 2021

Ataturk Museum Pavilion formerly known as “Çankaya Mansion” is a building that has witnessed many important events of the history of the Republic of Turkey, and is one of the most important buildings that were put into service for Atatürk. This study covers the Dining Room which was added to the ground floor of the mansion after the renovation carried out between 1923-1924. This study is about the examination and scientific evaluation of the dining room in terms of interior and furniture. The dining room is a meeting place rather than a place used for dining in Ataturk's era. In this place, along with Atatürk, well-known and important personalities of that period came together. Many precious conversations affecting the history of the Republic of Turkey has hosted. As a result of the work carried out in the dining room, it was determined that the room was decorated in a mix of Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo style and in an original style. The furniture is carved in the same original style. Also, some of the examined furniture were found to be compatible with the numerical measurement values of today's furniture in terms of ergonomic and anthropometric criterias. As a result of the study, many new data obtained about the mansion have been added to the literature about the mansion.
Political Innovations for ICT Institutionalization in Benin Agricultural System
Authors: Gouroubera Mori W. , Idrissou Latifou , Moumouni Ismail M.
Published: January 2021

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a significant role in addressing the challenges in agriculture in many countries. However, the institutionalization of ICT in any country’s agricultural system highly depends on its ICT policies. Benin’s agricultural sector has undergone many policy reforms since its independence in 1960 which caused changes in the orientation of ICT usage. This article aims to analyze ICT integration policies in agriculture in Benin regarding the innovations brought to facilitate its institutionalization. Therefore, three (3) dimensions of national political innovations are explored: innovation propensity, innovation capacity and innovation practice. A qualitative approach was adopted based not only on policy documents analysis such as laws, decrees and projects/programs but also on interviews with 30 key persons involved in the sector. The results showed that: (i) ICT has long been overlooked in agricultural policies in Benin; (ii) Low propensity and capacity was noticed regarding innovation of ICT integration in agriculture from 1960 until 2014. After this period, several innovations were introduced but they are still under innovation practiced. This study shows to researchers and practitioners that high political innovation propensity in the field of ICT integration in agriculture does not guarantee its institutionalization. The three concepts –innovation propensity, innovation capacity and innovation practice are inter-linked with each other in successfully institutionalizing ICT in agricultural sector. In the case of Benin, despite the fact that several innovations have been introduced their institutionalization is lagging behind. The results are useful for ICT policies, researchers and practitioners to better understand the process of ICT integration in agricultural system.
Influence of Sulphur and Boron on Growth and Yield of Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Das Shovan Krishna , Khatun Khaleda , Mostarin Tahmina , Shuvo Mutasim Fuad , Fatima Kanij , Tonny Fairuj Anika , Sarkar Anamika , Hossain Md. Monir
Published: January 2021

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October, 2018 to March, 2019 to study the influence of sulphur and boron on growth and yield of garden pea. The experiment comprised of two factors. Factor A: Levels of Sulphur (4 levels); S0: 0 kg S/ha (Control), S1: 10 kg S/ha, S2: 20 kg S/ha, S3: 30 kg S/ha and Factor B: Levels of Boron (4 levels); B0: 0 kg B/ha (Control), B1: 1 kg B/ha, B2: 2 kg B/ha, B3: 3 kg B/ha. This experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Blocked Design (RCBD) with three replications. Sulphur and Boron application influenced significantly on most of the parameters. In case of sulphur, maximum plant height (50.84 cm), number of pods per plant (14.00), pod length (8.95 cm), number of seeds per pod (5.56) and green pod yield (10.76 t/ha) were recorded from S3 treatment. In case of boron application, maximum plant height (49.17 cm), number of pods per plant (13.48), pod length (8.66 cm), number of seeds per pod (5.41) and green pod yield (10.14 t/ha) were found in B2 treatment. Among the treatment combination, S3B2 treatment gave the highest green pod yield (12.19 t/ha) and the lowest (5.38 t/ha) was obtained from S0B0 treatment. So, garden pea sown at 30 kg S/ha with 2 kg B/ha for suitable green pea production in Dhaka region.
METTL3/YTHDF2 m6A axis accelerates colorectal carcinogenesis through epigenetically suppressing YPEL5
Authors: Zhou Dan , Tang Weiwei , Xu Yidan , Xu Yajie , Xu Binbin , Fu Shanshan , Wang Yanting , Chen Fangfang , Chen Yongxiong , Han Yinshu , Wang Gueyhorng
Published: January 2021

N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as the most prevalent post‐transcriptional modification on mRNA that contributes prominently to tumorigenesis. However, the specific function of m6A methyltransferase methyltransferase‐like 3 (METTL3) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive. Herein, we explored the biological function of METTL3 in CRC progression. Clinically, METTL3 was frequently upregulated in CRC tissues, cell lines, and plasma samples and its high expression predicted poor prognosis of CRC patients. Functionally, knockdown of METTL3 significantly repressed CRC cell proliferation and migration in vitro, while its overexpression accelerated CRC tumor formation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, METTL3 epigenetically repressed YPEL5 in an m6A‐YTHDF2‐dependent manner by targeting the m6A site in the coding sequence region of the YPEL5 transcript. Moreover, overexpression of YPEL5 significantly reduced CCNB1 and PCNA expression. Collectively, we identified the pivotal role of METTL3‐catalyzed m6A modification in CRC tumorigenesis, wherein it facilitates CRC tumor growth and metastasis through suppressing YPEL5 expression in an m6A‐YTHDF2‐dependent manner, suggesting a promising strategy for the diagnosis and therapy of CRC.
Mirroring Action Potentials: Label‐Free, Accurate, and Noninvasive Electrophysiological Recordings of Human‐Derived Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Barbaglia Andrea , Dipalo Michele , Melle Giovanni , Iachetta Giuseppina , Deleye Lieselot , Hubarevich Aliaksandr , Toma Andrea , Tantussi Francesco , De Angelis Francesco
Published: January 2021

The electrophysiological recording of action potentials in human cells is a long‐sought objective due to its pivotal importance in many disciplines. Among the developed techniques, invasiveness remains a common issue, causing cytotoxicity or altering unpredictably cell physiological response. In this work, a new approach for recording intracellular signals of outstanding quality and with noninvasiveness is introduced. By taking profit of the concept of mirror charge in classical electrodynamics, the new proposed device transduces cell ionic currents into mirror charges in a microfluidic chamber, thus realizing a virtual mirror cell. By monitoring mirror charge dynamics, it is possible to effectively record the action potentials fired by the cells. Since there is no need for accessing or interacting with the cells, the method is intrinsically noninvasive. In addition, being based on optical recording, it shows high spatial resolution and high parallelization. As shown through a set of experiments, the presented methodology is an ideal candidate for the next generation devices for the reliable assessment of cardiotoxicity on human‐derived cardiomyocytes. More generally, it paves the way toward a new family of in vitro biodevices that will lay a new milestone in the field of electrophysiology.
Digital Transformation in Materials Science: A Paradigm Change in Material's Development
Authors: Kimmig Julian , Zechel Stefan , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: January 2021

The ongoing digitalization is rapidly changing and will further revolutionize all parts of life. This statement is currently omnipresent in the media as well as in the scientific community; however, the exact consequences of the proceeding digitalization for the field of materials science in general and the way research will be performed in the future are still unclear. There are first promising examples featuring the potential to change discovery and development approaches toward new materials. Nevertheless, a wide range of open questions have to be solved in order to enable the so‐called digital‐supported material research. The current state‐of‐the‐art, the present and future challenges, as well as the resulting perspectives for materials science are described.
Self‐Poled Sausage‐Like PVDF Nanowires Produced by Confined Phase Inversion as Novel Piezoelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Soleymani Hosna , Noormohammadi Mohammad , Kashi Mohammad Almasi , Amiri Morteza Hassanpour , Michels Jasper J. , Asadi Kamal , Abolhasani Mohammad Mahdi
Published: January 2021

Piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanowires are of particular interest for energy harvesting as they are ultra‐sensitive to small vibrations. Here, a new, cost‐effective, and scalable approach to producing PVDF nanowires with strongly enhanced power output is presented. The method combines template‐wetting in cylindrical nano‐confinement with anisotropic solvent‐nonsolvent phase inversion to yield a fully novel nanowire morphology consisting of “sausage‐like” strings of nano‐domains. Dynamic numerical simulations of the phase inversion reveal the formation of these structures to be subject to a very rich and complex phenomenology. The simulated dependence of the feature size on the degree of confinement agrees with the experimentally observed trend. It is unambiguously demonstrated that the sausage‐like nano‐generators upsurge the power density to 280% compared to normal nanowires. Finite element modeling explains how the higher deformability of the sausage‐like nanostructures gives rise to this significant enhancement in piezoelectric performance.
Facile Fabrication of Self‐Assembly Functionalized Polythiophene Hole Transporting Layer for High Performance Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Chang Chi‐Yuan , Huang Hsin‐Hsiang , Tsai Hsinhan , Lin Shu‐Ling , Liu Pang‐Hsiao , Chen Wei , Hsu Fang‐Chi , Nie Wanyi , Chen Yang‐Fang , Wang Leeyih
Published: January 2021

Crystallinity and crystal orientation have a predominant impact on a materials’ semiconducting properties, thus it is essential to manipulate the microstructure arrangements for desired semiconducting device performance. Here, ultra‐uniform hole‐transporting material (HTM) by self‐assembling COOH‐functionalized P3HT (P3HT‐COOH) is fabricated, on which near single crystal quality perovskite thin film can be grown. In particular, the self‐assembly approach facilitates the P3HT‐COOH molecules to form an ordered and homogeneous monolayer on top of the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode facilitate the perovskite crystalline film growth with high quality and preferred orientations. After detailed spectroscopy and device characterizations, it is found that the carboxylic acid anchoring groups can down‐shift the work function and passivate the ITO surface, retarding the interface carrier recombination. As a result, the device made with the self‐assembled HTM show high open‐circuit voltage over 1.10 V and extend the lifetime over 4,300 h when storing at 30% relative humidity. Moreover, the cell works efficiently under much reduced light power, making it useful as power source under dim‐light conditions. The demonstration suggests a new facile way of fabricating monolayer HTM for high efficiency perovskite devices, as well as the interconnecting layer needed for tandem cell.
Improved Threshold Switching and Endurance Characteristics Using Controlled Atomic‐Scale Switching in a 0.5 nm Thick Stoichiometric HfO2Layer
Authors: Lee Seungwoo , Banerjee Writam , Lee Sangmin , Sung Changhyuck , Hwang Hyunsang
Published: January 2021

Electrochemical metallization cell–based threshold switching (TS) devices are promising candidates for selectors in high‐density cross‐point memory arrays. However, TS characteristics in density‐ and stoichiometry‐engineered solid electrolyte systems have not been studied. By adopting TS‐based stoichiometric and substoichiometric solid electrolyte HfO2layers, the localized atomic scale movement of Ag ions can be effectively controlled in ultrathin bilayers. The stoichiometric HfO2thickness is crucial to this. This study proposes defect‐ and density‐engineered bilayer TS with a 0.5 nm critical thickness of the stoichiometric HfO2layer, which maximizes various switching characteristics. The unstable filament in the ultrathin stoichiometric HfO2layer prevents the formation of stable Ag clusters owing to limited Ag injection into the dense and stoichiometric HfO2layer. In addition, the substoichiometric HfO1.91(1.5 nm) buffer layer prevents direct injection of Ag ions from the top electrode into the dense HfO2layer. These factors enable the bilayer design to achieve a high turn‐off speed of 100 ns, excellent endurance above 107cycles, low off current of ≈pA, and tightVthdistributions even for sub‐2 nm devices. These exceptional results demonstrate the possibility of designing density‐graded bilayer TS devices with high stability, fast switching, and high endurance.
Thermally Stable and Highly Conductive SAMs on Ag Substrate—The Impact of the Anchoring Group
Authors: Wróbel Mateusz , Żaba Tomasz , Sauter Eric , Krawiec Mariusz , Sobczuk Joanna , Terfort Andreas , Zharnikov Michael , Cyganik Piotr
Published: January 2021

Self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on metal substrates are an important part of modern interfacial chemistry and nanotechnology. The robustness of SAMs strongly depends on their thermal stability, which, together with electric conductivity, crucial for their applications in molecular/organic electronics. In this context, using a multidisciplinary approach, the structure, stability, and conductivity properties of conjugated aromatic SAMs featuring the naphthalene backbone and S, Se, or COO group, mediating bonding to the Ag substrate are addressed. Whereas thermal stability of these SAMs exhibits a strong dependence on anchoring group, their conductivity is similar, which is rationalized by tentative model considering redistribution of charge density along the molecular framework. The thermal stability of model naphthalenethiol SAM, emphasized by desorption energy of ≈1.69 eV, is better than that of typical N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) monolayers considered currently as the most stable SAMs on metal substrates. However, in contrast to NHC SAMs, which are highly insulating, the naphtalene‐based SAM, with S, Se or COO anchoring groups, are highly conductive, even in comparison with analogous oligophenyl SAMs (by a factor of 10). A unique combination of the ultimate thermal stability and superior conductivity for the naphthalenethiol SAM on Ag makes it highly attractive for applications.
Pediatric emergency department shift experiences and moods: An exploratory sequential mixed‐methods study
Authors: Assaf Raymen R. , Pham Phung K. , Schmidt Anita R. , Gorab Alexandra , Chang Todd P. , Liu Deborah R.
Published: January 2021

Objective

The objective was to investigate the impact of affective, social, behavioral, and cognitive factors on pediatric emergency department (PED) provider mood changes during clinical shifts, with the introduction of a novel on‐shift measure.

Methods

The nominal group technique was used to generate the ED experience survey (EDES), encompassing factors that may influence PED provider mood. Providers were alerted via experience sampling method to complete the EDES and positive and negative affect schedule at randomly generated times. Analyses were conducted using multilevel modeling of moods within shifts within persons.

Results

Measures were completed 221 times during 137 shifts by 52 PED providers. Positive mood tended to increase with higher self‐rated capacity to deal with challenging patient situations (p < 0.001). Having to repeat patient assessments was negatively associated with positive mood during the beginning, but not rest of shift (p = 0.01). Changes in positive mood varied across provider groups (p < 0.001). Negative mood tended to decrease with higher self‐rated quality of interactions with patients/families (p < 0.001). Needing a restroom break during any time on duty was associated with negative mood (p < 0.001). Furthermore, negative mood was associated with the need to process emotions during the shift beginning (p = 0.01). Finally, not knowing about patients’ outcomes was associated with negative mood during the shift end (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

PED providers’ mood during shifts are impacted by ED‐specific factors spanning physical, social, behavioral, affective, and cognitive features. Future research may explore potential entry points for mitigation of clinician stress to support provider well‐being and ultimately improve patient care.
Bioinformatics analysis of Aux/IAA gene family in maize
Authors: Jiang Long , Li Zhongnan , Yu Xiaoming , Liu Chunbo
Published: January 2021

Aux/IAA gene family is a kind of transcription factors in plants, which plays a regulatory role in the process of auxin regulating plant growth. In this study, the structural characteristics and gene expression patterns of Aux/IAA transcription factors in maize (Zea mays L.) were analyzed by bioinformatics method, and 32 Aux/IAA genes from Arabidopsis and 40 Aux/IAA genes from maize were screened for phylogenetic evolution. It was inferred that the gene family was an ancient and huge gene family by evolutionary tree. The numbers of Aux/IAA genes distributed on chromosome 3 and 6 are the largest. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that the gene family mainly played a role in the nucleus. Thermogram analysis showed that a small number of genes were highly expressed in specific tissues. In addition, GRMZM2G115357 was highly expressed under the condition of high osmotic pressure, which might play a role in the process of resistance to high osmotic stress in maize. The results of this study promote the understanding of Aux/IAA family genes and lay a foundation for the functional study of Aux/IAA family genes at the molecular level.
Intelligent Agents Diagnostics—Enhancing Cyber‐Physical Systems with Self‐Diagnostic Capabilities
Authors: Kaufmann David , Nica Iulia , Wotawa Franz
Published: January 2021

Allowing intelligent agents to deal with unforeseen situations that have not been considered during development in a smart way is a first step for increasing their autonomy. This requires diagnostic capabilities to detect the unforeseen situation and to identify a root cause that can be used afterward for carrying out repair and other compensating actions. Herein, foundations for diagnostic reasoning based on models of the system are provided. In particular, a diagnostic solution is presented that utilizes answer set solvers, which allow implementing non‐monotonic reasoning. The underlying ideas are introduced, an algorithm is discussed, and experimental results are obtained to clarify the question whether the approach can be used in practical applications. The obtained results indicate that answer set solving provides similar and sometimes even better results than specialized diagnosis algorithms, and can be used in practice.
Three‐dimensional surface scanning methods in osteology: A topographical and geometric morphometric comparison
Authors: Waltenberger Lukas , Rebay‐Salisbury Katharina , Mitteroecker Philipp
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Three‐dimensional (3D) data collected by structured light scanners, photogrammetry, and computed tomography (CT) scans are increasingly combined in joint analyses, even though the scanning techniques and reconstruction software differ considerably. The aim of the present study was to compare the quality and accuracy of surface models and landmark data obtained from modern clinical CT scanning, 3D structured light scanner, photogrammetry, and MicroScribe digitizer.

Material and methods

We tested 13 different photogrammetric software tools and compared surface models obtained by different methods for four articulated human pelves in a topographical analysis. We also measured a set of 219 landmarks and semilandmarks twice on every surface as well as directly on the dry bones with a MicroScribe digitizer.

Results

Only one photogrammetric software package yielded surface models of the complete pelves that could be used for further analysis. Despite the complex pelvic anatomy, all three methods (CT scanning, 3D structured light scanning, photogrammetry) yielded similar surface representations with average deviations among the surface models between 100 and 200 μm. A geometric morphometric analysis of the measured landmarks showed that the different scanning methods yielded similar shape variables, but data acquisition via MicroScribe digitizer was most prone to error.

Discussion

We demonstrated that three‐dimensional models obtained by different methods can be combined in a single analysis. Photogrammetry proved to be a cheap, quick, and accurate method to generate 3D surface models at useful resolutions, but photogrammetry software packages differ enormously in quality.
Housing‐related delayed discharge from inpatient mental health units: Magnitude and contributors in a metropolitan mental health service
Authors: Nguyen Jenny , Honey Anne , Arblaster Karen , Heard Rob
Published: January 2021

International research indicates that delayed discharges from inpatient mental health units are common and most occur because patients lack suitable housing. However, little is known about this issue in an Australian setting. This mixed‐methods study aimed to investigate the extent, cost and contributors to housing‐related delayed discharge (HRDD) from inpatient mental health units in one Local Health District in New South Wales, Australia. A medical records review was conducted to quantify housing‐related delay and housing difficulties noted. Perceptions of discharge staff about the factors contributing to the delays were gathered through in‐depth interviews and analysed using constant comparative analysis. Findings indicated that HRDD for working aged adults accounted for 11.6% of total mental health bed days in 2018, costing the health system $4,054,149. When extrapolated nationally HRDD could cost Australia $269.5 million per year. While individual characteristics and contexts were thought to make some patients more vulnerable, data indicated that the major contributors were lack of housing options, lack of services, difficulty with funding and lack of clear pathways to achieve housing. The findings highlight the urgent need for additional housing for people with mental health issues and a whole of government approach to addressing the substantial issue of housing‐related delayed discharge.
Axon‐Myelin Unit Blistering as Early Event in MS Normal Appearing White Matter
Authors: Luchicchi Antonio , Hart Bert't , Frigerio Irene , van Dam Anne‐Marie , Perna Laura , Offerhaus Herman L. , Stys Peter K. , Schenk Geert J. , Geurts Jeroen J. G.
Published: January 2021

Objective

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Although the prevalent view regards a CD4+‐lymphocyte autoimmune reaction against myelin at the root of the disease, recent studies propose autoimmunity as a secondary reaction to idiopathic brain damage. To gain knowledge about this possibility we investigated the presence of axonal and myelinic morphological alterations, which could implicate imbalance of axon‐myelin units as primary event in MS pathogenesis.

Methods

Using high resolution imaging histological brain specimens from patients with MS and non‐neurological/non‐MS controls, we explored molecular changes underpinning imbalanced interaction between axon and myelin in normal appearing white matter (NAWM), a region characterized by normal myelination and absent inflammatory activity.

Results

In MS brains, we detected blister‐like swellings formed by myelin detachment from axons, which were substantially less frequently retrieved in non‐neurological/non‐MS controls. Swellings in MS NAWM presented altered glutamate receptor expression, myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) distribution, and lipid biochemical composition of myelin sheaths. Changes in tethering protein expression, widening of nodes of Ranvier and altered distribution of sodium channels in nodal regions of otherwise normally myelinated axons were also present in MS NAWM. Finally, we demonstrate a significant increase, compared with controls, in citrullinated proteins in myelin of MS cases, pointing toward biochemical modifications that may amplify the immunogenicity of MS myelin.

Interpretation

Collectively, the impaired interaction of myelin and axons potentially leads to myelin disintegration. Conceptually, the ensuing release of (post‐translationally modified) myelin antigens may elicit a subsequent immune attack in MS. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:711–725
Tuber Locations Associated with Infantile Spasms Map to a Common Brain Network
Authors: Cohen Alexander L. , Mulder Brechtje P. F. , Prohl Anna K. , Soussand Louis , Davis Peter , Kroeck Mallory R. , McManus Peter , Gholipour Ali , Scherrer Benoit , Bebin E. Martina , Wu Joyce Y. , Northrup Hope , Krueger Darcy A. , Sahin Mustafa , Warfield Simon K. , Fox Michael D. , Peters Jurriaan M. ,   for the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Autism Center of Excellence Network Study Group
Published: January 2021

Objective

Approximately 50% of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex develop infantile spasms, a sudden onset epilepsy syndrome associated with poor neurological outcomes. An increased burden of tubers confers an elevated risk of infantile spasms, but it remains unknown whether some tuber locations confer higher risk than others. Here, we test whether tuber location and connectivity are associated with infantile spasms.

Methods

We segmented tubers from 123 children with (n = 74) and without (n = 49) infantile spasms from a prospective observational cohort. We used voxelwise lesion symptom mapping to test for an association between spasms and tuber location. We then used lesion network mapping to test for an association between spasms and connectivity with tuber locations. Finally, we tested the discriminability of identified associations with logistic regression and cross‐validation as well as statistical mediation.

Results

Tuber locations associated with infantile spasms were heterogenous, and no single location was significantly associated with spasms. However, >95% of tuber locations associated with spasms were functionally connected to the globi pallidi and cerebellar vermis. These connections were specific compared to tubers in patients without spasms. Logistic regression found that globus pallidus connectivity was a stronger predictor of spasms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10–3.50, p = 0.02) than tuber burden (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 0.90–3.04, p = 0.11), with a mean receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.73 (±0.1) during repeated cross‐validation.

Interpretation

Connectivity between tuber locations and the bilateral globi pallidi is associated with infantile spasms. Our findings lend insight into spasm pathophysiology and may identify patients at risk. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:726–739
High‐density polyethylene reinforced by low loadings of electrochemically exfoliated graphene via melt recirculation approach
Authors: Bansala Taruna , Verma Pawan , Vashisth Aniruddh , Hope Joshua T. , Yakovlev Sergey , Uppili Sundararajan , Green Micah J. , Hule Rohan A.
Published: January 2021

The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of high‐aspect ratio electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EEG) as a filler in high‐density polyethylene (HDPE); we use an industrially viable polymer processing technique (melt blending with melt recirculation) to ensure excellent dispersion and reinforcement at low loadings. The effects of nanofiller loading were evaluated for two different HDPE grades with two different melt flow indices (MFI) based on crystallization, tensile, and rheological properties. The findings indicate improvements in mechanical properties (tensile modulus and tensile strength) for all HDPE/EEG nanocomposite samples; however, the reinforcement was more pronounced at 0.2 wt% loading, indicating a transition from excellent dispersion at lower loadings to aggregated at higher loadings. The low and high MFI HDPE/EEG nanocomposites at 0.2 wt% EEG loading displayed an improvement of 31% and 40% in tensile modulus and 19% and 33% in tensile strength, respectively. The improved mechanical response with higher MFI nanocomposites is likely due to enhanced dispersion associated with the lower melt viscosity. Similarly, the rheological results also showed maximum increase in storage and loss modulus at a loading of 0.2 wt% EEG. In conclusion, EEG can be an effective filler if proper dispersion is achieved, which is challenging at high loadings.
Multiscale simulation on dynamic friction behavior of cylinder sealing rings under hydrothermal aging
Authors: Luo Hang , Wu Jian , Teng Fei , Su Benlong , Li Haohao , Lin Ange , Li Zhe , Wang Youshan
Published: January 2021

The friction behavior of cylinder seal greatly affects the dynamic position accuracy of the cylinder execution terminal under hydrothermal aging. So, the hydrothermal aging test, friction test, tensile and compression test, topography analysis and infrared spectroscopy analysis, and multiscale simulation were carried out for studying the effect of the hydrothermal aging on the friction performance of cylinder seal. It was found that when the aging temperature increases from 40 to 80°C, the dynamic friction forces of the cylinder seals increase by more than 15%; the friction force increases with the increasement of the initial mechanical stress. Aging makes rubber to be brittle and more cavities on the fracture surface and reduces the fractured activation energy of the nitrile rubber molecular chain.
Design and synthesis of hydrazinecarbothioamide sulfones as potential antihyperglycemic agents
Authors: Aly Ashraf A. , Hassan Alaa A. , Makhlouf Maysa M. , Alshammari Mohammed B. , Mohamed Naguib Abdel Hafez Sara , Refaie Marwa M. M. , Bräse Stefan , Nieger Martin , Ramadan Mohamed
Published: January 2021

New hydrazinecarbothioamides with a phenylsulfonyl group were synthesized and their structures were identified by different spectroscopic data (1H NMR, 13C NMR, two‐dimensional NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis). The mechanism describing the formation of the products was also discussed. The antidiabetic activity of the isolated products was investigated histochemically. The synthesized sulfonylalkylthiosemicarbazide exhibited antihyperglycemic activity in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice. Compounds 5a and 5c significantly lowered the blood glucose level to 103.3 ± 1.8 and 102 ± 3.9 mg/dl, respectively. Also, they caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels and normalized the glutathione levels in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice, compared with the diabetic group. The results suggest that the synthesized hydrazinocarbothioamides may effectively inhibit the development of oxidative stress in diabetes.
Perceptual anchoring and adjustment
Authors: Jain Gaurav , Nayakankuppam Dhananjay , Gaeth Gary J.
Published: January 2021

Anchoring and adjustment, a ubiquitous heuristic process in judgment and decision making, has been vastly demonstrated in the numerical domain. We, with the help of four studies, demonstrate the anchoring and adjustment bias in perceptual domains. Our results show that anchoring and adjustment can bias our judgments at relatively low levels of cognition. Additionally, we outline a process by which anchoring and adjustment biases individuals' judgments in perceptual domains. Our results indicate a process wherein individuals search for an answer by testing plausible answers, the search being biased by the anchor question. We show that this movement is dominated by adjustments to adjacent possible responses indicating a search process constrained by selective accessibility. This process account explains the extant data in numerical domains as well—thus providing a way for a potential resolution to the disagreement among different existing process accounts for the anchoring phenomenon.
Accounting for variation in and overuse of antibiotics among humans
Authors: Blaser Martin J. , Melby Melissa K. , Lock Margaret , Nichter Mark
Published: January 2021

Worldwide, antibiotic use is increasing, but many infections against which antibiotics are applied are not even caused by bacteria. Over‐the‐counter and internet sales preclude physician oversight. Regional differences, between and within countries highlight many potential factors influencing antibiotic use. Taking a systems perspective that considers pharmaceutical commodity chains, we examine antibiotic overuse from the vantage point of both sides of the therapeutic relationship. We examine patterns and expectations of practitioners and patients, institutional policies and pressures, the business strategies of pharmaceutical companies and distributors, and cultural drivers of variation. Solutions to improve antibiotic stewardship include practitioners taking greater responsibility for their antibiotic prescribing, increasing the role of caregivers as diagnosticians rather than medicine providers, improving their communication to patients about antibiotic treatment consequences, lessening the economic influences on prescribing, and identifying antibiotic alternatives.