bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imperfection of the World Trade Organization as a Hazard for International Business
Authors: Zoladkiewicz Krystyna , Orłowska Renata
Published: June 2020

This paper examines the negative impact of the  paralysis observed in the World Trade Organization (WTO) functioning on international business. We provide an overview of the loopholes in the WTO rules and principles which became serious threats for the multilateral trading system. Our research identifies important loopholes in the MFN clause, DSB and Appellate Body. We bring clarity that the paralysis observed in the WTO functioning is a consequence of  these factors. The deviations and exceptions of the WTO rules permit the WTO members to compete “unfairly”. China is among the economies which are the most efficient in this respect. We term China’s behaviour on the global market as “economic factitious disorder”. It can be explained as permanently maintaining the status of a developing country by China and using preferences for LDCs despite a really high level of economic development. These findings indicate that the WTO lacks the mechanism to react and to prevent such abuses. They were not envisaged by the WTO creators, which suggests the need of the WTO reform. We contribute to international business research and the international organizations literature by identifying the causes of the paralysis of the WTO functioning.
Fuzzy Expert System for Earthquake Prediction in Western Himalayan Range
Authors: Tehseen Rabia , Farooq Muhammad Shoaib , Abid Adnan
Published: June 2020

Fuzzy Expert System (FES) with application to earthquake prediction has been presented to reproduce the performance of a human expert in earthquake prediction using expert systems. This research aims to predict future earthquakes having a magnitude 5.5 or greater. Previous earthquake data from 2000 to 2019 have been collected for this purpose. Since the earthquake data for the specified region have been reported on different magnitude scales, suitable relationships were determined to obtain uniform data. The uniform data have been used to calculate seismicity indicators according to the guidelines provided by Gutenberg-Richter’s scale for quantitative determination of earthquake features. The relationships among these seismic indicators have been used by the human expert to set the rule base of Fuzzy expert system. These rules have been mathematically validated and tested on instrumentally recorded earthquake data. The results obtained from the proposed FES presented 47 % accuracy in predicting future earthquakes that may occur in the 100 km radial area from 34.708 ° N, 72.5478 ° E.
Subjective and Objective Quality Evaluation Study of BPL-PLC Wired Medium
Authors: Debita Grzegorz , Falkowski-Gilski Przemyslaw , Habrych Marcin , Miedzinski Bogdan , Polnik Bartosz , Wandzio Jan , Jedlikowski Przemyslaw
Published: June 2020

This paper presents results of research on the effectiveness of bi-directional voice transmission in a 6 kV mine cable network using BPL-PLC (Broadband over Power Line - Power Line Communication) technology. It concerns both emergency cable state (supply outage with cable shorted at both ends) and loaded with distorted current waveforms. The narrowband (0.5 MHz–15 MHz) and broadband (two different modes, frequency range of 3 MHz–7.5 MHz) transmission efficiency, considered as an objective study, was correlated with the level of noise in the cable for both induction-inductive and mixed capacitive-inductive coupling of the measurement devices and/or modems. The quality of voice transmission, considered as a subjective study, was assessed by a group of 15 people aged between 25 and 35 years old. The test audio signals included samples in 3 languages sourced from ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and processed in 3 bitrates ranging from 8 kbps to 24 kbps.
The Influential Factors in the Effective Implementation of Evaluation in the Teaching-Learning Process in the Iranian Higher Education System
Authors: Abbasi Kasani Hamed , Shams Mourkani Gholamreza , Seraji Farhad , Rezaeizadeh Morteza
Published: June 2020

Background: Evaluation is an inherent element of the teaching-learning process and is influenced by several factors. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify the influential factors in the effective implementation of evaluation in the teaching-learning process in the Iranian higher education system. Methods: This study was conducted using the synthesis method and a qualitative approach. The sample population included all the national studies focused on the influential factors in the evaluation of the teaching-learning process during 2000 - 2018. In total, 36 studies were selected, and after several screening stages, 10 studies that were more relevant to the subject matter were selected as the research sample based on the review of the titles, abstracts, and research content. The database search was performed using keywords such as ‘factors/indicators affecting the evaluation of students’ and ‘teachers/implementation of evaluation’. The databases included CIVILICA, Magiran, Elmnet, Noormags, and SID. The research data were extracted and analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: After data analysis, the influential factors in the implementation of evaluation were classified into two dimensions, five factors, and 29 indicators, including the structural dimension (conditions and environment of evaluation, educational system, and evaluation system) and behavioral dimension (teachers and students). Conclusions: The results of the data analysis led to the identification of the influential factors in the effective implementation of the teaching-learning process evaluation in the Iranian higher education system as a model.
Odpovědnost za újmu osobě poskytující pomoc veřejné moci (s důrazem na ozbrojené síly)
Authors: Horák Ondřej , Skoruša Leopold
Published: June 2020

Příspěvek je věnován problematice náhrady majetkové a nemajetkové újmy osobě, která poskytla součinnost veřejné moci (úředním osobám) a zvláště pak ozbrojeným silám. Jedná se o specifický případ odpovědnosti státu, mající objektivní charakter (odpovědnost za výsledek). Zvláštní pozornost bude zaměřena na odškodňování pozůstalých a na přechod náhrad na dědice. Půjde o první komplexní zpracování dané tematiky, která se vyznačuje řadou interpretačních problémů z hlediska teorie (zvl. vztah veřejného a soukromého práva) i praxe (např. zproštění odpovědnosti státu či postavení registrovaných partnerů při odškodňování pozůstalých). Cílem příspěvku bude kritická analýza současného stavu právní úpravy a představení návrhů de lege ferenda.
Umoření listin: ojedinělé řízení s dalekosáhlým dopadem
Authors: Placzek Ondřej , Šafář Roman
Published: June 2020

Tento článek zkoumá vybrané problematické aspekty soudobé úpravy řízení o umoření listin, popisuje jejich praktické projevy a navrhuje možná řešení. Autoři se zaměřují zejména na dopad přesunu úpravy do zákona o zvláštních řízeních soudních na povahu řízení a využitelnost některých institutů typických pro sporné řízení, okruh účastníků řízení, podmínky umořitelnosti listin a praktické dopady výsledného usnesení o umoření listiny.
Multi-criteria analysis of smart cities in Poland
Authors: Ogrodnik Karolina
Published: June 2020

The primary objective of the work is to analyze the largest Polish cities in terms of the smart city indicators, which currently form one of the most important models of development. Special attention was paid to smart and sustainable solutions for public transport and infrastructure. An MCDM (Multiple Criteria Decision Making)/MCDA (Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis) method was used. First, the selected method (PROMETHEE) allowed to indicate the smartest and least smart cities with respect to six main dimensions: smart economy, smart people, smart governance, smart mobility, smart environment, and smart living. Secondly, the PROMETHEE method allowed compilation of a final ranking, taking into account publicly available indicators of the smart city concept. Finally, 43 smart city indicators that are available in public statistics were proposed. In addition to the primary goal of the study, i.e., diagnosis of Polish cities in terms of the global concept of smart city, a critical analysis of the availability of necessary statistical indicators was also carried out, indicating potential directions for database development.
The impact of social structure and physical characteristics on housing estate renovation in postsocialist cities: Cases of Vilnius and Budapest
Authors: Balázs Szabó , Donatas Donatas
Published: June 2020

The article aims to analyse the renovation of housing estates in postsocialist cities. Two cities with different share of housing estates and public support system, Vilnius and Budapest are in the focus of the analysis. The renovation of housing estates is a new process in both of them; it started only in the 2000s and its outcome is far from spectacular. The most important and most common type of renovation activities is the insulation of blocks of flats because it significantly decreases the utility costs. The article investigates whether and how the social and physical characteristics of housing estates influence their renovation. The size, age, type, spatial location all have some impact on the renovation level. The authors point out that the necessity of renovation and its costs depend on the physical characteristics of the buildings but the opportunity for renovation derives from the ability to finance it. Consequently, the social status of the inhabitants and the availability of state support are of crucial importance. The findings of the analysis indicate that different combinations of state support and social status result in very different renovation activities in the two cities.
Who defines urban regeneration? Comparative analysis of medium-sized cities in Poland and Russia
Authors: Ciesiółka Przemysław , Gunko Maria , Pivovar Galina
Published: June 2020

The aim of the current study was to identify the main actors (leaders) involved in transformations of mediumsized cities in Poland and Russia that share similar legacies but took different development paths after the collapse of state socialism. These transformations are discussed using the framework of urban regeneration and are based on empirical data from two cities – Kolomna (Russia) and Kalisz (Poland). The data were obtained through expert interviews, as well as nonparticipant observation in the two cities. Though the process of urban regeneration shows similarities, the process leaders are different.
Diagnostic Radiology in Nigeria: A Country Report
Authors: Idowu Bukunmi Michael , Okedere Tolulope Adebayo
Published: June 2020

Nigeria is located in West Africa. The Nigerian healthcare system is stratified into three tiers corresponding to the three tiers of government: primary (local), secondary (state), and tertiary (federal). In addition to this public health structure, private facilities play a significant role in healthcare delivery. Nigeria has a shortage of healthcare equipment and personnel, with a doctor per 1,000 population ratio of 0.17, which is one of the lowest on the African continent. Despite these challenges, a wide range of medical imaging services is available in the country, through a network of public and private facilities. The public healthcare system, which serves the majority of Nigerians, is weak due to lack of adequate funding, personnel and equipment. This gap is closely bridged by private healthcare facilities, which account for 70% of health services coverage in the country. Training in diagnostic radiology is evolving, with two postgraduate colleges being responsible for the regulation of radiology training in the country: the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Surgeons. There are also higher institutions of learning which are responsible for the training of other imaging professionals. The major challenges of radiology practice in Nigeria are the unavailability of constant electricity as well as the problems of equipment availability and repair.
The formation of metalanguage skills among bilingual elementary schoolers as a linguodidactic strategy of teaching three languages
Authors: Unarova Vilena Yakovlevna
Published: June 2020

The subject of this research is the method of formation of metalanguage skills among the bilingual elementary schoolers by means of the native (ethnic), Russian and English languages. The object of this research is the process of teaching native (ethnic), Russian and foreign languages in elementary school. Particular attention is given to the examination of prerequisites of formation of metalanguage skills, creation of conceptual grounds and methodology of their formation as a linguodidactic strategy of interconnected teaching of three languages in the conditions of contact bilingualism in the Russian regions. The preliminary survey conducted among the elementary school teachers  and teachers of English language demonstrated that they experience certain difficulties in organization of methodical work on implementation of interconnected teaching of languages. For the purpose of development of scientifically substantiated methodology of formation of metalanguage skills and experimental determination of its effectiveness, a comprehensive research was conducted in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Chuvash Republic, which included surveying teachers and parents, recitation of first graders, written tasks for multilingual and bilingual students of elementary school. The scientific novelty consists in identification of peculiarities of the formation of metalanguage skills among bilingual children, as well as main difficulties associated with learning several languages in elementary school. In accordance with ontolinguistic, psycholinguistic and cognitive approaches, the author develops and substantiates a linguodidactic complex on the interconnected formation of metalanguage skills among bilingual students of elementary schools.
History of development of pedagogical skill in Russia: an outside perspective
Authors: Ostapenko Andrei Aleksandrovich
Published: June 2020

This peer review analyzes a monograph “Pedagogical Skill in Russia: history, theory, practice (mid XVIII – XX centuries” by L. A. Milto published in Ukrainian language in Kiev (2008). The goal of peer review lies in familiarization of the Russian language experts in the area of history of education and national pedagogical thought with a new perspective upon the development of pedagogical practice in Russia for the period of two and a half centuries. Modesty of the edition (300 printed copies) and language of publication makes the book virtually unreachable for the Russian audience. The review of the presented monograph is carried out in the context of retrospective analysis of the entire Ukrainian scientific school of pedagogical art. It is underlined that this research represents a worthy development of ideas of the academician I. A. Zazyun. Novelty of the monograph consists in viewing the evolution of Russian education in the aspect of determination of pedagogical findings, approaches of pedagogical art of school teachers and university pedagogues. Of special relevance is the analysis of memoir literature on the lecturing skill of the prominent Russian professors of the XIX century and pedagogical activity of theatrical pedagogues, stage directors and actors of the early XX century. L. A. Milto’s monograph greatly contributes to the history of development of the national pedagogy.
A Tgfbr1/Snai1-dependent developmental module at the core of vertebrate axial elongation
Authors: Dias André , Lozovska Anastasiia , Wymeersch Filip J , Nóvoa Ana , Binagui-Casas Anahi , Sobral Daniel , Martins Gabriel G , Wilson Valerie , Mallo Moises
Published: June 2020

Formation of the vertebrate postcranial body axis follows two sequential but distinct phases. The first phase generates pre-sacral structures (the so-called primary body) through the activity of the primitive streak on axial progenitors within the epiblast. The embryo then switches to generate the secondary body (post-sacral structures), which depends on axial progenitors in the tail bud. Here we show that the mammalian tail bud is generated through an independent functional developmental module, concurrent but functionally different from that generating the primary body. This module is triggered by convergent Tgfbr1 and Snai1 activities that promote an incomplete epithelial to mesenchymal transition on a subset of epiblast axial progenitors. This EMT is functionally different from that coordinated by the primitive streak, as it does not lead to mesodermal differentiation but brings axial progenitors into a transitory state, keeping their progenitor activity to drive further axial body extension.
Tetramerisation of the CRISPR ring nuclease Crn3/Csx3 facilitates cyclic oligoadenylate cleavage
Authors: Athukoralage Januka S , McQuarrie Stuart , Grüschow Sabine , Graham Shirley , Gloster Tracey M , White Malcolm F
Published: June 2020

Type III CRISPR systems detect foreign RNA and activate the cyclase domain of the Cas10 subunit, generating cyclic oligoadenylate (cOA) molecules that act as a second messenger to signal infection, activating nucleases that degrade the nucleic acid of both invader and host. This can lead to dormancy or cell death; to avoid this, cells need a way to remove cOA from the cell once a viral infection has been defeated. Enzymes specialised for this task are known as ring nucleases, but are limited in their distribution. Here, we demonstrate that the widespread CRISPR associated protein Csx3, previously described as an RNA deadenylase, is a ring nuclease that rapidly degrades cyclic tetra-adenylate (cA4). The enzyme has an unusual cooperative reaction mechanism involving an active site that spans the interface between two dimers, sandwiching the cA4 substrate. We propose the name Crn3 (CRISPR associated ring nuclease 3) for the Csx3 family.
Ocean Mixing Process Study 2018
Authors: Fer Ilker , Nilsen Frank , Falck Eva , Bosse Anthony , Koenig Zoé , Peterson Algot
Published: June 2020

The cruise KB 2018616 aboard the Research Vessel Kristine Bonnevie was the first research cruise of the Nansen Legacy project. The cruise aimed at collecting ocean stratification, currents, and microstructure profiles along selected transects across the Spitsbergen shelf and slope, thus providing the background for the Kronprins Haakon cruise scheduled in late September 2018. This report provides an overview of the methods employed and the data collected during KB 2018616.
A machine learning approach to automatic detection of irregularity in skin lesion border using dermoscopic images
Authors: Ali Abder-Rahman , Li Jingpeng , Yang Guang , O’Shea Sally Jane
Published: June 2020

Skin lesion border irregularity is considered an important clinical feature for the early diagnosis of melanoma, representing the B feature in the ABCD rule. In this article we propose an automated approach for skin lesion border irregularity detection. The approach involves extracting the skin lesion from the image, detecting the skin lesion border, measuring the border irregularity, training a Convolutional Neural Network and Gaussian naive Bayes ensemble, to the automatic detection of border irregularity, which results in an objective decision on whether the skin lesion border is considered regular or irregular. The approach achieves outstanding results, obtaining an accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, andF-score of 93.6%, 100%, 92.5% and 96.1%, respectively.
Comparative metabolomic analyses of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo responding to UV-B radiation reveal variations in the metabolisms associated with its bioactive ingredients
Authors: Chen Yue , Shen Qi , Lv Ping , Sun Chongbo
Published: June 2020

Background

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, a member of the genus Dendrobium, is a traditional Chinese medicine with high commercial value. The positive roles of UV-B radiation on active ingredient metabolism in various medicinal plants have been studied. However, the metabolic responses of D. officinale stems to UV-B treatment is largely unknown.

Methods

An untargeted metabolomics method was used to investigate the metabolic variations in D. officinale stems between the control and UV-B treatments.

Results

In total, 3,655 annotated metabolites, including 640 up- and 783 down-regulated metabolites, were identified and grouped into various primary metabolic categories. Then, a number of metabolites involved in the polysaccharide, alkaloid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were identified. For polysaccharide biosynthesis, several intermediate products, such as pyruvate, secologanate, tryptophan and secologanin, were significantly up-regulated by the UV-B treatment. For polysaccharide biosynthesis, many key fundamental building blocks, from the glycolysis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and fructose and mannose metabolism pathways, were induced by the UV-B treatment. For flavonoid metabolism, accumulations of several intermediate products of chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase and flavanone 3-hydroxylase were affected by the UV-B treatment, indicating an involvement of UV-B in flavonoid biosynthesis. The UV-B induced accumulation of polysaccharides, alkaloids and flavonoids was confirmed by HPLC analysis. Our study will help to understand the effects of UV-B on the accumulation of active ingredients in D. officinale.
The genome of the butternut canker pathogen, Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum shows an elevated number of genes associated with secondary metabolism and protection from host resistance responses
Authors: Wu Guangxi , Schuelke Taruna A. , Iriarte Gloria , Broders Kirk
Published: June 2020

Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum (Oc-j) is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes canker and branch dieback diseases in the hardwood tree butternut, Juglans cinerea. Oc-j is a member of the order of Diaporthales, which includes many other plant pathogenic species, several of which also infect hardwood tree species. In this study, we sequenced the genome of Oc-j and achieved a high-quality assembly and delineated its phylogeny within the Diaporthales order using a genome-wide multi-gene approach. We also further examined multiple gene families that might be involved in plant pathogenicity and degradation of complex biomass, which are relevant to a pathogenic life-style in a tree host. We found that the Oc-j genome contains a greater number of genes in these gene families compared to other species in the Diaporthales. These gene families include secreted CAZymes, kinases, cytochrome P450, efflux pumps, and secondary metabolism gene clusters. The large numbers of these genes provide Oc-j with an arsenal to cope with the specific ecological niche as a pathogen of the butternut tree.
Fibropapillomatosis in free-ranging green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) off the central coast of Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: Suárez-Domínguez Emilio A , Martínez-Serrano Ibiza , Righini Nicoletta , Chamlaty-Fayad Yusef E , Bello-Sánchez E Ahmed , Ramos-Díaz Amelly H
Published: June 2020

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease affecting marine turtles around the tropics. Juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) seem to be the most affected by the cutaneous tumors, which are not malignant but depending on their number, size, and location, can hamper survival. FP prevalence in sea turtles has increased over the past few decades in areas such as Espírito Santo (Brazil) and Texas (USA), but in Mexico few instances have been documented to date. Here we report a 12.2% FP prevalence in free-ranging turtles captured during 2017–2018 in the Veracruz Reef System National Park, a previously unreported site in Mexico, which is subject to environmental and anthropogenic pressures. Histopathological analysis of one tissue sample revealed tumors were consistent with the characteristics of fibropapillomas. They were not severe (0.01–7.16 cm), but the majority had a verrucous appearance and were mainly found on the flippers and eyes, being potentially detrimental to the health of juvenile turtles. We recommend continued monitoring of this population, and the information provided here can serve as a baseline for future studies in this area of the Gulf of Mexico, where FP had not been
Delineation of Efficient Cotton Growing Regions of Tamil Nadu
Authors: Khatua Rajashree , Panneerselvam S. , Geethalakshmi V. , Kumar M. , Jeyakumar P.
Published: June 2020

Cotton is an immensely important crop for the sustainable economy of India and livelihood of the Indian cotton farming community. Identification of potential regions would help in increasing the productivity, ensures better utilization of available resources and avoid wastage of resources in the inefficient zones. Efficient cropping zones of the Cotton crop of Tamil Nadu were keyed out with 30 years data (1985-2015) using Relative Yield Index (RYI) and Relative Spread Index (RSI). The results reveled that in Tamil Nadu, fifteen districts were found for MECZ and three for ECZ. Coimbatore is most essential area for cotton crop. Similarly eight districts are coming under LECZ because RSI were very less compare to RYI. Tiruchirapalli and Ramanathapuram both the district have less RYI and RSI indicating NECZ for cotton crop.
Role of Barrier and Intercrops in the Management of Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) Disease in Jharkhand, India
Authors: Kumar Praveen , Prasad S. M.
Published: June 2020

Field trials were carried out during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 autumn seasons to study the role of barrier and intercrops against whitefly - borne Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) disease. In the  treatment (T2) two rows of Maize sown after 15 rows of Mungbean, the lowest mean population of whitefly 7.03 per plant was recorded which was followed by 7.42 whitefly per plant in the treatment (T4) with two rows of Sorghum after 15 rows of Mungbean. In barrier crops, the lowest disease incidence of 28.94% was recorded in the treatment (T2), two rows of maize after 15 rows of Mungbean. The mean seed yield recorded was 6.75 q/ha. The treatment (T2), two rows of Maize after 15 rows of Mungbean was recorded to be effective in the management of MYMV disease. The lowest mean whitefly population of 4.71 per plant was recorded in the above treatment, Mungbean sown with Maize in 4:2 ratio. Mungbean sown with Maize in 4:2 ratio was recorded to be efficacious in the management of MYMV disease. The results indicated that the barrier crop of maize interfered with the movement of vector whiteflies.
Study of Staining Capability of Alcoholic and Aqueous Hibiscus sabdariffa Extract in Demonstration of Selected Fungal Moulds in Some Selected Tissue Section of Wistar Rat
Authors: Ma’aruf S. Y. , Mohammed M. O. , Avwioro O. G. , Muhammad A. T. , Tsamiya R. I. , Abubakar U. , Mohammed I. , Umar A. , Sani S. M. , Kabir H. , Bello B. A. , Abubakar S. D. , Dogondaji F. A. , Okorie N. , Garba S.
Published: June 2020

Introduction: Hibiscus sabdariifa is a natural dye, generally called roselle. Most of Synthetic dye  have been established to cause toxicity. The aim of this research was to determine the staining effect of different concentration of Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts at various pH, duration on fungal staining.

Methods: Standard Gomori’s metenaine silver stains as control and Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts (alcoholic and aqueous) were used to stain a fungal (Aspergillus spp) positive lung tissue, using various concentration (5% and 10%) of the extract, with change of pH achieved by treating the extracts with ammonium hydroxide and glacial acetic acid at various duration (30 seconds and 1 hour respectively), each was used for staining Aspergillus spp in tissue section as a primary stain replacing (4% Chromic acid, sodium metabisulphite, Hexamine working silver solution and Sodium thiosulphate).

Results: All extracts after treatment were acidic, the fungi were  best demonstrated with Aqueous hibiscus stains (5% untreated, 10% untreated and 5% glacial acetic acid treated) at longer duration, staining the capsule, light to dark-brown in a light-green background when compared with the alcoholic hibiscus stain. Few of the alcoholic hibiscus stains show metachromatic property. The Hibiscus stains stained better at longer duration and the change of pH was indirectly proportional to the staining ability of the hibiscus stains.

Conclusion: The results obtained indicate that hibiscus plant extract have the potential for use in the morphological identification of fungi in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue section.
Impediments to Intra-regional Trade in South Asia: A Stakeholder Perspective
Authors: Sumanasiri E. A. G.
Published: June 2020

South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) was founded to achieve better standards of living through greater development in South Asia. SAARC has moved nearer in even though many of its member countries failed to realize the benefit of developing intra-regional trade. Despite the formation of a South Asian Free Trading Area (SAFTA) intra-regional trade performance is not satisfactory relative to South Asia’s total trade flow. The main objective of this study is to identify the impediments to boost the intra- to a status of a borderless market regional trade flow of South Asian Region. The study selected the qualitative research methodology where twenty in-depth face to face interviews were carried out with both local as well as regional stakeholders who engage in South Asian regional trade activities. Template analysis was used as the method of data analysis. Secondary data sources used to triangulate the interview data. The research identified four (4) major impediments as the Regional market structure, Regional social structure, Political and economic structure, and Tariff structure. Implications and recommendation developed as it was identified the attractiveness of niche markets, the suitability of localizing marketing strategies, the advantage of entering into strategic alliances between regional and outside companies, and suitability of developing a regional supply chain network and a regional brand name.
Evaluation of Phytochemical Contents, Proximate Nutritional Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Leaves and Rhizome Extracts of Cyperus rotundus Linn. in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Authors: Michael Ikon, Grace , Ekerenam Etang, Ubong , Micah Udoiko, Etima , Promise Ohagim, Ifunanya
Published: June 2020

Background: The leaves and rhizome extracts of Cyperus rotundus Linn. popularly called “Nut grass” in many Nigerian communities have been extensively used in local food preparation and in treatment purposes.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical contents, proximate nutritional composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaves and rhizome extracts of C. rotundus.

Methodology: The disease-free plant materials were collected from a farm in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Preparation of the plant material, methanolic and aqueous extracts; bacterial culture, isolation, microscopy and biochemical identification; phytochemical screening and proximate nutritional analysis were done according to standard methods, while screening for antimicrobial activity was done by agar well diffusion technique.

Results: The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts showed the presence of bioactive compounds at varying amounts such as glycosides, tannins, reducing sugars, alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, saponins and phlobatannins. The proximate nutritional and elemental analysis of C. rotundus extracts showed high presence of B-carotene (164.3 ± 0.02), Vitamin A (109.25 ± 0.01) and carbohydrate (59.0 ± 0.01) with moderate content of lipid (24.25 ± 0.02) and moisture (9.10 ± 0.01) as well as contents of some mineral elements such as Ca, K and P occurring in the range literature values in mg per 100 g dry weight of the plant sample. The methanol and aqueous extracts of C. rotundus showed varying diameter of zones of inhibition on the test organism. The observable inhibitory effect of the plant extracts on the test organism was more pronounced with methanol extracts as indicated by the diameter of zones of inhibition in mm in the order of 22.0>14.0>13.0 for P. mirabilis, E. coli and S. aureus, respectively compared to the aqueous extract.

Conclusion: The results of this study have shown the antimicrobial, therapeutic and nutritional potential of the leaves and rhizome extracts of C. rotundus. It could possibly find application as a good alternative antibacterial agent, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.
Selection of Small Stream Basins and Characteristics Analysis of Closed-circuit Television-based Automated Discharge Measurement Technology
Authors: Joo Jaeseung , Byeon Hyun Hyuk , Kim Seojun , Cheong Tae Sung
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study is to produce a guideline for collecting essential data, such as hydraulic and hydrologic data, in unmeasured streams. Most small streams are unmeasured basins, and sufficient data has not been collected for designing floods to achieve adequate disaster response and management. The flood design of unmeasured streams in Korea is typically performed using numerical-based analysis and stochastic methods. However, it is known that the most suitable method is the flood frequency analysis using observed flood data. In this study, a field survey of 89 small streams across the country for two years (2018 and 2019) was performed to select the optimum sites for measuring the flow rates. A total of 79 small streams were selected, excluding small streams that failed to satisfy the criteria for conformity with the closed-circuit television-based automatic discharge measurement technology (CADMT). In addition, information on the characteristics of the small streams was collected from the National Disaster Management System to analyze the correlations between the selected streams. The results showed that the correlations significantly depended on the basin area. If we classify the small streams according to the basin area and then select the small measuring stream to apply CADMT, we can obtain useful hydraulic data from the various small streams.
Analysis of Japanese Volcanic Ash Dispersion on the Korean Peninsula using Satellite Imagery
Authors: Sun Jongsun , Ahn Jae-kwang , Lee Haseong , Hwang Eui-Hong , Lee Duk Kee
Published: June 2020

A volcanic eruption is a kind of global natural disaster that can occur suddenly and cause great damage to humankind. During the eruption, the magma causes fatal damage to life and property in areas near the volcano, and nearby countries are affected by the spread of volcanic ash, causing secondary damage due to air and soil pollution. Near the Korean peninsula, there exists an active volcano that can spread volcanic ash over long distances by erupting above Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 4. Volcanoes in Japan have been known to cause considerable volcanic ash damage on the Korean Peninsula during eruption. Accordingly, the Korea Meteorological Administration is developing technology to predict and monitor volcanic ash spread using satellite images. However, despite the fact that empirical models for volcanic ash diffusion range prediction are used during volcanic eruptions, continuous improvement is needed for accurate information prediction. In this study, satellite images were analyzed not for the predicted distance of volcanic ash clouds, but for the actual distance of volcanic ash dispersion in cases where the volcanic ashes dispersed in the direction of the Korean peninsula. Of the 3,880 volcanoes that erupted in Japan over the last four years, 111 cases were identified where the height and spread distance of the volcanic ash that erupted toward the Korean Peninsula can be confirmed. In addition, the actual volcanic eruption cases and modeling results were analyzed to determine the extent of volcanic ash spread, and a hypothetical scenario was tested to quantify the direct damage of the volcanic ash. From the analysis of the volcanic ash spread through the virtual simulations, it was found that the height of the volcanic ash, the direction of the wind, and wind speed during volcanic eruption were important factors.
Co‐expression with chaperones can affect protein 3D structure as exemplified by loss‐of‐function variants of human prolidase
Authors: Wątor Elżbieta , Rutkiewicz Maria , Weiss Manfred S. , Wilk Piotr
Published: June 2020

Prolidase catalyzes the cleavage of dipeptides containing proline on their C terminus. The reduction in prolidase activity is the cause of a rare disease named 'Prolidase Deficiency'. Local structural disorder was indicated as one of the causes for diminished prolidase activity. Previous studies showed that heat shock proteins can partially recover prolidase activity in vivo. To analyze this mechanism of enzymatic activity rescue, we compared the crystal structures of selected prolidase mutants expressed in the absence and in the presence of chaperones. Our results confirm that protein chaperones facilitate the formation of more ordered structures by their substrate protein. These results also suggest that the protein expression system needs to be considered as an important parameter in structural studies.

Databases

The reported crystal structures and their associated structure factor amplitudes were deposited in the Protein Data Bank under the accession codes 6SRE, 6SRF, and 6SRG, respectively.
Understanding the Association Between Osteoarthritis and Social Participation: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Perruccio Anthony V. , Yip Calvin , Power J. Denise , Canizares Mayilee , Gignac Monique A. M. , Badley Elizabeth M.
Published: June 2020

Objective

The focus on disability in osteoarthritis (OA) has largely been on the ability to perform specific activities, which neglects the greater implications for social participation. We investigated the association between OA and social participation, considering activity limitations and instrumental supports as intervening variables in the association.

Methods

Data were from 21,214 respondents, ages 45–85 years, from cycle 1 of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The questionnaire elicited information regarding self‐reported doctor‐diagnosed OA, difficulty with 14 activities, perceived availability and receipt of instrumental supports, and 17 social participation activities. Structural equation modeling was used. The primary outcome was social participation, and the primary predictor was OA. The intervening variables included activity limitations, received instrumental supports, and perceived instrumental supports. Latent variables were developed for intervening and social participation variables. The covariates included age, sex, body mass index, income, education, smoking, and comorbidity count.

Results

The mean age of the respondents was 63 years, 51% were female, and 26.5% reported having OA. Two distinct social participation indicators were identified, including social participation–diversity and social participation–intensity. When intervening variables were not considered, minimal/no association was found between OA and social participation. When intervening variables were considered, unique pathways linking OA and social participation were found. The overall negative association between activity limitations and social participation was partially direct and partially buffered by both receipt of and perceived availability of instrumental supports. In the absence of activity limitations, OA was associated with greater social participation.

Conclusion

Enhanced social participation in people with OA who do not have activity limitations may reflect proactive steps taken by those with mild OA to maintain activity and social engagement. For those with activity limitations, findings highlight the need for interventions to mitigate limitations and draw particular attention to the importance of both provision and awareness of available instrumental supports in maintaining social participation.
Applying the 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology/American College of Rheumatology Lupus Criteria to Patients From the LUMINA Cohort: Results From the Multiethnic, Multicenter US Cohort
Authors: Ugarte‐Gil Manuel F. , Pons‐Estel Guillermo J. , Harvey Guillermina B. , Vilá Luis M. , Griffin Russell , Alarcón Graciela S.
Published: June 2020

Objective

To evaluate the performance of the 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in terms of earlier SLE classification in comparison to the ACR or the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria.

Methods

Patients from a multiethnic, multicenter cohort, the Lupus in Minorities: Nature versus Nurture cohort, where SLE was defined using the 1982/1997 ACR criteria were included. Demographic, clinical, and immunologic criteria were compared among the 2019 EULAR/ACR and the 1982/1997 ACR and the 2012 SLICC timing categories.

Results

The 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria allowed an earlier SLE classification in 13.3% of patients (mean 0.66 years) and 15.3% of patients (mean 0.63 years) compared to the 1982/1997 ACR and the 2012 SLICC criteria, respectively. Patients accruing the 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria later than the 1982/1997 ACR criteria had a lower disease activity, were less likely to have positivity to anti–double‐stranded DNA and anti‐Sm, as well as lupus nephritis classes II or V; they were more likely to have mucocutaneous manifestations, serositis, leukopenia, and antiphospholipid antibodies positivity. These differences were less pronounced when compared to the 2012 SLICC criteria

Conclusion

The 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria classified SLE patients earlier than the 2 other criteria sets in real‐life clinical practice scenarios in a relatively small proportion of the patients. However, these criteria could allow earlier classification of a subset of patients with a more severe disease.
A‐Site Cation Engineering of Metal Halide Perovskites: Version 3.0 of Efficient Tin‐Based Lead‐Free Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Gao Weiyin , Chen Changshun , Ran Chenxin , Zheng Hao , Dong He , Xia Yingdong , Chen Yonghua , Huang Wei
Published: June 2020

Pb‐based metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have emerged as efficient light absorbers in third‐generation photovoltaic devices, and the latest certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Pb‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has reached 25.2%. Despite great progress, Pb‐based MHPs are affected by toxicity, which hinders their market entry in a potential future large‐scale commercialization effort. Therefore, the exploration of Pb‐free MHPs has become one of the alternative solutions sought in the community. Among all the Pb‐free MHPs, Sn‐based MHPs show great promise owing to their similar or even superior theoretical optoelectronic characteristics. After several years of development, the PCE of Sn‐based PSCs has recently been approaching 10%, with the breakthroughs mainly coming from A‐site cation engineering of Sn‐based MHPs. In this review, the crucial status of A‐site cation engineering strategies in the research of Sn‐based PSCs is highlighted. First, the way the features of A‐site cation influence the structure and characteristics of MHPs is systematically demonstrated. Then, the state‐of‐the‐art developments, focusing on A‐site cation engineering of Sn‐based MHPs, are comprehensively reviewed. Subsequently, the current challenges and opportunities for further boosting the performance of Sn‐based PSCs are discussed. Finally, conclusions and perspectives on the promising Sn‐based optoelectronic devices are discussed.
Scaffolds Functionalized with Matrix from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Fibroblasts for Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: Santarella Francesco , Sridharan Rukmani , Marinkovic Milica , Do Amaral Ronaldo Jose Farias Correa , Cavanagh Brenton , Smith Avi , Kashpur Olga , Gerami‐Naini Behzad , Garlick Jonathan A. , O'Brien Fergal J. , Kearney Cathal J.
Published: June 2020

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are chronic wounds, with 20% of cases resulting in amputation, despite intervention. A recently approved tissue engineering product—a cell‐free collagen‐glycosaminoglycan (GAG) scaffold—demonstrates 50% success, motivating its functionalization with extracellular matrix (ECM). Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology reprograms somatic cells into an embryonic‐like state. Recent findings describe how iPSCs‐derived fibroblasts (“post‐iPSF”) are proangiogenic, produce more ECM than their somatic precursors (“pre‐iPSF”), and their ECM has characteristics of foetal ECM (a wound regeneration advantage, as fetuses heal scar‐free). ECM production is 45% higher from post‐iPSF and has favorable components (e.g., Collagen I and III, and fibronectin). Herein, a freeze‐dried scaffold using ECM grown by post‐iPSF cells (Post‐iPSF Coll) is developed and tested vs precursors ECM‐activated scaffolds (Pre‐iPSF Coll). When seeded with healthy or DFU fibroblasts, both ECM‐derived scaffolds have more diverse ECM and more robust immune responses to cues. Post‐iPSF‐Coll had higher GAG, higher cell content, higher Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in DFUs, and higher Interleukin‐1‐receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra) vs. pre‐iPSF Coll. This work constitutes the first step in exploiting ECM from iPSF for tissue engineering scaffolds.
DNA‐Based Plasmonic Heterogeneous Nanostructures: Building, Optical Responses, and Bioapplications
Authors: Zhao Yuan , Xu Chuanlai
Published: June 2020

The integration of multiple functional nanoparticles into a specific architecture allows the precise manipulation of light for coherent electron oscillations. Plasmonic metals‐based heterogeneous nanostructures are fabricated by using DNA as templates. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the controllable synthesis and self‐assembly of heterogeneous nanostructures, and analyzes the effects of structural parameters on the regulation of optical responses. The potential applications and challenges of heterogeneous nanostructures in the fields of biosensors and bioanalysis, in vivo monitoring, and phototheranostics are discussed.
Surface roughness effect on optical loss in waveguide using isotropically induced crosslink network of siloxane–polyimide copolymer
Authors: Mohd Ibrahim Noor Farahin , Ramli Mohamad Riduwan , Rusli Arjulizan , Abd Rahman Mohd Kamil , Ahmad Zulkifli
Published: June 2020

Optical properties of two‐fluorinated polysiloxane‐co‐polyimide (PI‐PDMS and 3‐(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane [PI‐APTES]) were investigated based on their molecular structure and compared with the pure PI at 1,550 nm radiation. The refractive indexes and birefringence of the copolymers were reduced which is attributable to the chain flexibility as substantiated from the differential scanning calorimetry result. They are highly transparent at near infrared (NIR) region with light transmittance above 90% at visible region while displaying excellent thermal stability up to 456°C. Asymmetry planar waveguides was fabricated which recorded a respectable low optical loss 0.020 dB/cm for pure PI, 0.042 dB/cm for PI‐PDMS, and 0.066 dB/cm for PI‐APTES, respectively. Despite proving low NIR absorption and low birefringence, extrinsic factor namely surface roughness was accounted as affecting the higher optical loss in polyimide siloxane copolymer compared to pure PI. The excellent thermal and optical properties displayed by these series of material established their viable application as waveguide material at 1,550 nm wavelength.