bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Concentration-QTc Analysis of Tetrodotoxin: A Randomized, Dose Escalation Study in Healthy Adults
Authors: Kavoosi Mojgan , O’Reilly Terry E. , Kavoosi Mehran , Chai Peng , Engel Caroline , Korz Walter , Gallen Christopher C. , Lester Robert M.
Published: August 2020

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a highly specific voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) blocker in clinical evaluation as a peripheral-acting analgesic for chronic pain. This study presents the first published results of the safety including cardiac liability of TTX at therapeutic-relevant concentrations in twenty-five healthy adults. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-, and positive- (moxifloxacin) controlled study evaluated single ascending doses of 15 µg, 30 µg, and 45 µg TTX over 3 periods with a 7-day washout between each period. Subcutaneous injections of TTX were readily absorbed, reaching maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) within 1.5 h. Both extent of exposure (AUC) and Cmax increased in proportion to dose. No QT prolongation was identified by concentration-QTc analysis and the upper bounds of the two-sided 90% confidence interval of predicted maximum baseline and placebo corrected QTcF (ΔΔQTcF) value did not exceed 10 ms for all tetrodotoxin doses, thereby meeting the criteria of a negative QT study. Safety assessments showed no clinically relevant changes with values similar between all groups and no subject withdrawing due to adverse events. Paresthesia, oral-paresthesia, headache, dizziness, nausea, and myalgia were the most common TEAEs (overall occurrence ≥5%) in the TTX treatment groups. TTX doses investigated in this study are safe, well-tolerated, and lack proarrhythmic proclivity.
Aedes aegypti from Amazon Basin Harbor High Diversity of Novel Viral Species
Authors: Ribeiro Geovani de Oliveira , Morais Vanessa S. , Monteiro Fred Julio Costa , Ribeiro Edcelha Soares D’Athaide , Rego Marlisson Octavio da S , Souto Raimundo Nonato Picanço , Villanova Fabiola , Tahmasebi Roozbeh , Hefford Philip Michael , Deng Xutao , Delwart Eric , Cerdeira Sabino Ester , Fernandes Licia Natal , da Costa Antonio Charlys , Leal Élcio
Published: August 2020

Viruses are the most diverse and abundant microorganisms on earth, highly adaptive to a wide range of hosts. Viral diversity within invertebrate hosts has gained notoriety in recent years in public health as several such viruses have been of medical importance. Aedes aegypti serves as a vector for several viruses that have caused epidemics within the last year throughout Brazil; including Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. This study aimed to identify new viral agents within Aedes aegypti mosquito in a city of the Amazonian region, where it is highly endemic. Metagenomic investigation was performed on 60 mosquito pools and viral RNA sequences present in their microbiota were characterized using genomic and phylogenetic tools. In total, we identified five putative novel virus species related to the Sobemovirus genus, Iflavirus genus and Permutatetraviridae family. These findings indicate a diverse taxonomy of viruses present in the mosquito microbiota of the Amazon, the region with the greatest invertebrate diversity in the world.
The Minor Matrix Protein VP24 from Ebola Virus Lacks Direct Lipid-Binding Properties
Authors: Su Yuan , Stahelin Robert V.
Published: August 2020

Viral protein 24 (VP24) from Ebola virus (EBOV) was first recognized as a minor matrix protein that associates with cellular membranes. However, more recent studies shed light on its roles in inhibiting viral genome transcription and replication, facilitating nucleocapsid assembly and transport, and interfering with immune responses in host cells through downregulation of interferon (IFN)-activated genes. Thus, whether VP24 is a peripheral protein with lipid-binding ability for matrix layer recruitment has not been explored. Here, we examined the lipid-binding ability of VP24 with a number of lipid-binding assays. The results indicated that VP24 lacked the ability to associate with lipids tested regardless of VP24 posttranslational modifications. We further demonstrate that the presence of the EBOV major matrix protein VP40 did not promote VP24 membrane association in vitro or in cells. Further, no protein–protein interactions between VP24 and VP40 were detected by co-immunoprecipitation. Confocal imaging and cellular membrane fractionation analyses in human cells suggested VP24 did not specifically localize at the plasma membrane inner leaflet. Overall, we provide evidence that EBOV VP24 is not a lipid-binding protein and its presence in the viral matrix layer is likely not dependent on direct lipid interactions.
Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Influenza A DNA Vaccines Encoding Artificial Antigens Based on Conservative Hemagglutinin Stem Region and M2 Protein in Mice
Authors: Bazhan Sergei , Antonets Denis , Starostina Ekaterina , Ilyicheva Tatyana , Kaplina Olga , Marchenko Vasiliy , Durymanov Alexander , Oreshkova Svetlana , Karpenko Larisa
Published: August 2020

Background: Development of a universal vaccine capable to induce antibody responses against a broad range of influenza virus strains attracts growing attention. Hemagglutinin stem and the exposed fragment of influenza virus M2 protein are promising targets for induction of cross-protective humoral and cell-mediated response, since they contain conservative epitopes capable to induce antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to a wide range of influenza virus subtypes. Methods: In this study, we generated DNA vaccine constructs encoding artificial antigens AgH1, AgH3, and AgM2 designed on the basis of conservative hemagglutinin stem fragments of two influenza A virus subtypes, H1N1 and H3N2, and conservative M2 protein, and evaluate their immunogenicity and protective efficacy. To obtain DNA vaccine constructs, genes encoding the designed antigens were cloned into a pcDNA3.1 vector. Expression of the target genes in 293T cells transfected with DNA vaccine constructs has been confirmed by synthesis of specific mRNA. Results: Immunization of BALB/c mice with DNA vaccines encoding these antigens was shown to evoke humoral and T-cell immune responses as well as a moderated statistically significant cross-protective effect against two heterologous viruses A/California/4/2009 (H1N1pdm09) and A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2). Conclusions: The results demonstrate a potential approach to creating a universal influenza vaccine based on artificial antigens.
Expert Event Segmentation of Dance Is Genre-Specific and Primes Verbal Memory
Authors: Di Nota Paula M. , Olshansky Michael P. , DeSouza Joseph F.X.
Published: August 2020

By chunking continuous streams of action into ordered, discrete, and meaningful units, event segmentation facilitates motor learning. While expertise in the observed repertoire reduces the frequency of event borders, generalization of this effect to unfamiliar genres of dance and among other sensorimotor experts (musicians, athletes) remains unknown, and was the first aim of this study. Due to significant overlap in visuomotor, language, and memory processing brain networks, the second aim of this study was to investigate whether visually priming expert motor schemas improves memory for words related to one’s expertise. A total of 112 participants in six groups (ballet, Bharatanatyam, and “other” dancers, athletes, musicians, and non-experts) segmented a ballet dance, a Bharatanatyam dance, and a non-dance control sequence. To test verbal memory, participants performed a retrieval-induced forgetting task between segmentation blocks. Dance, instrument, and sport word categories were included to probe the second study aim. Results of the event segmentation paradigm clarify that previously-established expert segmentation effects are specific to familiar genres of dance, and do not transfer between different types of experts or to non-dance sequences. Greater recall of dance category words among ballet and Bharatanatyam dancers provides novel evidence for improved verbal memory primed by activating familiar sensorimotor representations.
Integrated Water Resources Research: Advancements in Understanding to Improve Future Sustainability
Authors: Hubbart Jason A.
Published: August 2020

Anthropogenic and natural disturbances to freshwater quantity and quality is a greater issue for society than ever before. To successfully restore water resources in impaired watersheds requires understanding the interactions between hydrology, climate, land use, water quality, ecology, social and economic pressures. Current understanding of these interactions is limited primarily by a lack of innovation, investment, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This Special Issue of Water includes 18 articles broadly addressing investigative areas related to experimental study designs and modeling (n = 8), freshwater pollutants of concern (n = 7), and human dimensions of water use and management (n = 3). Results demonstrate the immense, globally transferable value of the experimental watershed approach, the relevance and critical importance of current integrated studies of pollutants of concern, and the imperative to include human sociological and economic processes in water resources investigations. Study results encourage cooperation, trust and innovation, between watershed stakeholders to reach common goals to improve and sustain the resource. The publications in this Special Issue are substantial; however, managers remain insufficiently informed to make best water resource decisions amidst combined influences of land use change, rapid ongoing human population growth, and changing environmental conditions. There is thus, a persistent need for further advancements in integrated and interdisciplinary research to improve scientific understanding, management and future sustainability of water resources.
A Screening Approach for Assessing Groundwater Quality for Consumption in Small Islands: Case Study of 45 Inhabited Islands in the Maldives
Authors: Jaleel Mohamed Ibrahim , Ibrahim Shaheeda Adam , Hussain Afsal , Mustafa Mohamed , Pathirana Assela
Published: August 2020

The expense and logistical difficulties of groundwater assessment in geographically dispersed, small landmasses, prevent it from being widely applied in small island developing countries. We propose a survey-based approach for screening groundwater quality using crowd-sourced information. A household-level survey was conducted in 45 selected inhabited islands across 11 atolls of the Maldives. In each island, covering a sample size between 16 and 85 (median 50) households, use of groundwater, the perceived quality and household groundwater treatment methods applied, were surveyed. The respondents perceived groundwater as highly contaminated and non-potable, but due to the lack of alternative water resources, almost all respondents used it for non-potable purposes. Over 84% of the surveyed islands reported varying degrees of elevated salinity. The water quality indicators of odor, color, and debris were seen to be significantly correlated to each other, but salinity did not show such a correlation. Salinity increased with population density and decreased with the area of the island as well as the latitude. Household treatment of groundwater was rare. Due to the ease of deployment, rapidity of assessment, low cost, and good spatial coverage, crowd-sourced water quality screening can be a viable and important approach alongside detailed groundwater investigation studies.
Investigation of the Influence of Excess Pumping on Groundwater Salinity in the Gaza Coastal Aquifer (Palestine) Using Three Predicted Future Scenarios
Authors: Seyam Mohammed , S. Alagha Jawad , Abunama Taher , Mogheir Yunes , Affam Augustine Chioma , Heydari Mohammad , Ramlawi Khaled
Published: August 2020

The Gaza coastal aquifer (GCA) is the only source of water for about two million citizens living in Gaza Strip, Palestine. The groundwater quality in GCA has deteriorated rapidly due to many factors. The most crucial factor is the excess pumping due to the high population density. The objective of this article was to evaluate the influence of excess pumping on GCA’s salinity using 10-year predicted future scenarios based on artificial neural networks (ANNs). The ANN-based model was generated to predict the GCA’s salinity for three future scenarios that were designed based on different pumping rates. The results showed that when the pumping rate remains at the present conditions, salinity will increase rapidly in most GCA areas, and the availability of fresh water will decrease in disquieting rates by 2030. Only about 8% of the overall GCA’s area is expected to stay within 500 mg/L of the chloride concentration. Results also indicate that salinity would be improved slightly if the pumping rate is kept at 50% of the current pumping rates while the improvement rate is much faster if the pumping is stopped completely, which is an unfeasible scenario. The results are considered as an urgent call for developing an integrated water management strategy aiming at improving GCA quality by providing other drinking water resources to secure the increasing water demand.
Roll Motion of a Water Filled Floating Cylinder—Additional Experimental Verification
Authors: Gabl Roman , Davey Thomas , Ingram David M.
Published: August 2020

Understanding the behaviour of water filled bodies is important from an applied engineering perspective when understanding the sea-keeping performance of certain floating platforms and vessels. Even by assuming that the deformation is negligible small in relation to the motion of the structure, these fluid-structure-fluid interactions are challenging to model, both physically and numerically, and there is a notable lack of reference data sets and studies to support the validation of this work. Most of the existing information is highly specific to certain hulls forms, or is limited to small motions. A previous study addressed this by modelling a floating cylinder (giving a more generic case) with roll and pitch motions in excess of 20°. The presented experiment expands on that work to further investigate the previously observed switch between pitch and roll in the cylinder under wave action as induced by the sloshing of the internal water volume. An additional experimental investigation, focused on a single draft, was conducted to test open research questions from the previous study. Here we show that the roll response of the water filled cylinder is repeatable, independent of the tank position and wave amplitude, provided the observation time is long enough to capture the fully developed motion response of the floating object. The mooring system used comprised four soft lines connected on two points on the cylinder. This arrangement resulted in slightly different restoring forces in different wave directions. A relative change of the wave direction by 90° led to a larger wave frequency band in which the roll motion occurred. These cases were, again, also conducted with the solid ballast. Both sets of data provide an interesting validation case for future work on water ballast inside a floating object.
Using the Apriori Algorithm and Copula Function for the Bivariate Analysis of Flash Flood Risk
Authors: Zhong Ming , Wang Jiao , Jiang Tao , Huang Zhijun , Chen Xiaohong , Hong Yang
Published: August 2020

Flash flooding is a phenomenon characterized by multiple variables. Few studies have focused on the extracted variables involved in flash flood risk and the joint probability distribution of the extracted variables. In this paper, a novel methodology that integrates the Apriori algorithm and copula function is presented and used for a flood risk analysis of Arizona in the United States. Due to the various rainfall indices affecting the flash flood risk, when performing the Apriori algorithm, the accumulated 3-h rainfall and accumulated 6-h rainfall were extracted as the most fitting rainfall indices. After comparing the performance of copulas, the Frank copula was found to exhibit the best fit for the flash flood hazard; thus, it was used for a bivariate joint probability analysis. The bivariate joint distribution functions of P–Q, PA–Q, PB–Q, and D–Q were established, and the results showed an increasing trend of flash flood risk with increases in the rainfall indices and peak flow; however, the risk displayed the least significant relation with the duration of the flash flood. These results are expected to be useful for risk analysis and decision making regarding flash floods.
Modeling and Analysis of Particle Deposition Processes on PVDF Membranes Using SEM Images and Image Generation by Auxiliary Classifier Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Cacciatori Caterina , Hashimoto Takashi , Takizawa Satoshi
Published: August 2020

Due to highly complex membrane structures, previous research on membrane modeling employed extensively simplified structures to save computational expense, which resulted in deviation from the real processes of membrane fouling. To overcome those shortcomings of the previous models, this study aimed to provide an alternative method of modeling membrane fouling in water filtration, using auxiliary classifier generative adversarial networks (ACGAN). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of 0.45 µm polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) flat sheet membranes were taken as inputs to ACGAN, before and after the filtration of feed waters containing 0.5 µm diameter particles at varied concentrations. The images generated with the ACGAN model successfully reconstructed the real images of particles deposited on the membranes, as verified by human validation and particle counting of the real and generated images. This indicated that the ACGAN model developed in this research successfully built a model architecture that represents the complex structure of the real PVDF membrane. The image analysis through particle counting and density-based spatial clustering of application with noise (DBSCAN) revealed that both real and generated membranes had an uneven deposition of particles, which was caused by the complex structures of the membranes and by different particle concentrations. These results indicated the importance and effectiveness of modeling intact membranes, without simplifying the structure using such models as the ACGAN model presented in this paper.
Minimizing Soil Nitrogen Leaching by Changing Furrow Irrigation into Sprinkler Fertigation in Potato Fields in the Northwestern China Plain
Authors: Yang Wenzhu , Jiao Yan , Yang Mingde , Wen Huiyang , Gu Peng , Yang Jie , Liu Lijia , Yu Junxia
Published: August 2020

Irrigation water is limiting for crop production in arid areas and application rates of fertilizers often exceed crop requirements, resulting in high accumulation of nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) in the soil. Management practices play a significant role in the leaching of NO3−-N. This experiment compares the effects of traditional furrow irrigation and sprinkler fertigation on the soil NO3−-N concentration trend throughout the cropping season in potato fields in China. Two irrigation systems that were fertilized, namely by furrow (NF-FI) and sprinkler fertigation (NF-SI), and two controlling without any fertilizer (C-FI and C-SI) were tested in the same experimental site for three consecutive years. Both the NF-FI soils and NF-SI soils with three replications and fertilizer applications of 273 kg N ha−1 exhibited a different trend of NO3−-N accumulation at different depths of soil profile. However, the magnitude of NO3−-N accumulation was low in the NF-SI soil profile. In NF-SI treatments, higher NO3−-N was observed at 20–40 cm soil layer. In the NF-FI, the concentration of the highest nitrate was observed at the 40–120 cm soil layer. The concentrations of NO3−-N in the fertilized soil were higher than those of the control soil for each irrigation system. Residual levels of NO3−-N in the soil depth of 40–120 cm from NF-FI were 1.54, 3.45 and 5.28 times higher than NF-SI after harvesting potatoes from 2015 to 2017. In NF-FI treatments, apparent nitrogen loss was 234.7, 237.5 and 276.7 kg ha−1 after harvesting potatoes in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Meanwhile, apparent nitrogen loss from NF-SI treatments was only 161.9, 132.1 and 148.9 kg ha−1, which was 31.0%, 44.4% and 46.2% lower than that of NF-FI in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The risk of NO3−-N leaching below the root zone from NF-FI was higher than that from NF-SI. It has been demonstrated that sprinkler fertigation can also be used as a tool for mitigating NO3−-N accumulation and apparent nitrogen loss.
Evaluation of the Main Function of Low Impact Development Based on Rainfall Events
Authors: Feng Meiyan , Jung Kwansue , Li Fengping , Li Hongyan , Kim Joo-Cheol
Published: August 2020

Low Impact Development (LID) is one of the sustainable approaches to urban stormwater management in areas with rapid urbanization. Although LID has been shown to have a positive effect in flood reduction, the hydrological balance regulation effect of LID under a variety of rainfall events is not fully understood. In this study, we assessed the hydrological efficiency of LID at two residential–commercial mixed sites in Korea to investigate the main function of LID in terms of diverse rainfall characteristics. Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was constructed to simulate the hydrological process numerical simulations in the pre-development, post-development and LID design scenarios, respectively. The model was calibrated and validated by using five observed rainfall–runoff events. Then, four single and four multiple LID practices (LIDs) were used to estimate their effectiveness under seven different designed rainfall events. The results indicate that LIDs substantially influence the hydrology cycle system, while the regulating effect varies with rainfall amounts. The efficiency of LIDs in flood reduction is proved to be more effective during lower storm events. However, LIDs should be designed to primarily prioritize the restoration of hydrological balance when the rainfall return period is longer.
WWTP Effluent Quality Improvement for Agricultural Reuse Using an Autonomous Prototype
Authors: Ponce-Robles Laura , Masdemont-Hernández Beatriz , Munuera-Pérez Teresa , Pagán-Muñoz Aránzazu , Lara-Guillén Andrés Jesús , García-García Antonio José , Pedrero-Salcedo Francisco , Nortes-Tortosa Pedro Antonio , Alarcón-Cabañero Juan José
Published: August 2020

Wastewater reuse presents a promising way to mitigate the risk to global water resources and achieve sustainability in water, especially in agricultural areas in the southeast of Spain, such as the Murcia region. However, the risks related to the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) or pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent suggest the need to implement effective and relatively low-cost tertiary treatments. With this aim, a self-sustainable pilot prototype based on three combined modules (disc-filtration, granular activated carbon (GAC) bed adsorption and UV disinfection) assisted by solar panels was installed as an alternative tertiary treatment in a conventional WWTP in the Murcia region. The obtained results clearly confirmed the efficiency of the proposed prototype for CECs removal, and showed optimal results at a workflow of 500 L/h. In all cases, high removal efficiency was obtained for the different indicator microorganisms described in the recently published Regulation (EU) 2020/741 (E. coli, F-specific coliphages, somatic coliphages, total coliphages, and Clostridium perfringens). The protection of the activated carbon by disc-filters and the energy autonomy and self-operation of the prototype resulted in an efficient and economically viable methodology for its implementation in both conventional WWTPs and in isolated areas attached to crops.
The Future of Water Management in Central Asia
Authors: Berndtsson Ronny , Tussupova Kamshat
Published: August 2020

Central Asia is an increasingly important strategic geopolitical region. During the latest decades, the region has often been identified as close to potential conflict regarding water usage. This includes the sharing of water from the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya in the Aral Sea Basin. The Aral Sea disaster has exposed a complex picture of water needs and potential political conflict. Rapid population increase together with climate change impacts are likely to further aggravate the short- and long-term future precarious situation for water management in the region. This Special Issue focuses on present and future water management issues in Central Asia in view of future climate changes and how these will affect socioeconomic development. Central Asia is, in general, water rich; however, exercising efficient and fair water management will be important in view of future population increase and climate change. At the same time, water and natural resource development is a cornerstone in all the Central Asian republics. Especially, water resources are, to a great extent, shared between all five republics. A common ground for water-sharing is, therefore, of utmost importance.
A Hybrid Intelligence Model for the Prediction of the Peak Flow of Debris Floods
Authors: Banihabib Mohammad Ebrahim , Jurik Lubos , Kazemi Mahsa Sheikh , Soltani Jaber , Tanhapour Mitra
Published: August 2020

Debris floods, as one of the most significant natural hazards, often threaten the lives and property of many people worldwide. Predicting models are essential for flood warning systems to minimize casualties of debris floods. Since HEC-HMS (Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydrological Modelling System) cannot simulate debris flow, this study proposes a new hybrid model that uses artificial intelligence models to overcome HEC-HMS’s insufficiency in reflecting the sediment concentration effect on the debris floods. A sediment concentration is an effective factor for evaluating debris flood peak flows. This led to the proposal of new hybrid models for predicting the debris flood peak flows on the basis of hybridization of the artificial intelligence models (Bayesian Network (BN) and Support Vector Regression–Particle Swarm Optimization (SVR-PSO)) and HEC-HMS. To estimate the sediment concentration of floods by using the proposed artificial intelligence models, we nominated an average basin elevation, an average basin slope, a basin area, the current day rainfall, the antecedent rainfall of the past 3 days, and the streamflow of the previous day the previous day as the effective variables. In the validation stage, the average of the Mean Absolute Relative Error (MARE) of the estimated values were 0.024, 0.038, and 0.024 for the typical floods that occurred in the Navrood, Kasilian, and the Amameh basins in the north of Iran, respectively. Similarly, we obtained values of 0.038, 0.073, and 0.040 for the debris flood events for the three respective locations. After predicting the debris flood peak flows by the proposed hybrid HMS-BN and HMS-SVR-PSO models, the average of the MAREs for all debris flood events was reduced to 0.013 and 0.014, respectively. The comparison of MAREs of the examined hybrid models shows that the HMS-BN model results in higher accuracy than the HMS-SVR-PSO model in the prediction of the debris flood peak flows. Generally, the absolute error of prediction by the proposed hybrid model is reduced to one-third of the HEC-HMS. The prediction of the debris flood peak flows using the proposed hybrid model can be examined in the debris flood warning systems to reduce the potential damages and casualties in similar basins.
Differences in Risk Perception of Water Quality and Its Influencing Factors between Lay People and Factory Workers for Water Management in River Sosiani, Eldoret Municipality Kenya
Authors: Mumbi Anne Wambui , Watanabe Tsunemi
Published: August 2020

This study evaluates the differences between risk predictors and risk perception regarding water pollution. Specifically, it focuses on the differences in risk perception between factory workers and lay people situated in textile industries near the River Sosiani in Eldoret, Kenya. The lay people are divided into two groups. The respondents living downstream are situated mostly in town centers and at the mid/lower parts of the river, and the respondents living upstream are mainly found at the upper parts of the River Sosiani. Data were obtained from 246 participants using questionnaires. Several factors influencing risk perception were selected to evaluate the degree of perceived risk amongst the groups. Descriptive statistics, mean score and correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the data. The one-way ANOVA results showed statistically different levels of risk perceptions amongst the groups. The partial and bivariate correlation analyses revealed the differences in scientific knowledge between respondents upstream and downstream. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that each group used different variables to determine risks in the region. In the factory group, 56.1% of the variance in risk perception is significantly predicted by sensorial factors, trust in the government’s capacity to manage water pollution and the impact of water pollution on human health. About 65.9% of the variance in risk perception of the downstream inhabitants is significantly predicted by sensorial factors, the possibility of industries generating water pollution, and previous experience with water pollution. For the respondents located upstream, age, sensorial factors, trust in the government and the possibility of being impacted by water pollution factors significantly predicted 37.05% of the variance in risk perception. These findings indicate that enhanced public participation in water governance amongst the residents of Eldoret town is needed, along with an understanding of the different characteristics of the respondents in the region during risk communication. This will boost awareness in the region and promote the adoption of better practices to minimise the adverse effects of water pollution faced by the region.
The morphological characteristics of the Muradiye Dönek pigeon, a native Turkish genetic resource
Authors: ÖZBAŞER Fatma Tülin , ERDEM Evren , GÜRCAN Eser Kemal , SOYSAL Mehmet İhsan
Published: August 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the morphological characteristics of Muradiye Dönek pigeon. It is a local animal genetic resource and cultural heritage and has an important place among the genotypes of domestic pigeons in Turkey. The animal material of this study consisted of 100 pigeons (50 females and 50 males) from seven pigeon enterprises. In the study, morphological characteristics were evaluated and morphometric measurements were determined. Body plumage colors of pigeons were determined as black (70%), red (16%) and blue (14%) galaca. In some birds, the yellow beaks and nails may bear black spots, which pigeon breeders refer to as ‘zikir’. The term ‘biyik’ (mustache) is used when black feathers appear among the white feathers on the head, and the term ‘kemer’ (belt) is used when black feathers appear in the tail. The differences between the mean values of body weight and wingspan (P<0.001), chest depth (P<0.05) values were statically significant for age groups, which were reported to affect flight characteristics in birds. As a result, when the morphological characteristics obtained in Muradiye Dönek pigeons are compared with other researchers, it is thought that the selection of these birds were carried out by the breeders in terms of the game behavior such as rotation movement during the diving and landing. Although the data obtained in the study support the hypothesis that Muradiye Dönek pigeons should be defined as a different breed, further studies with DNA analysis are required to confirm this situation.
IMPLEMENTASI SOFWARE AS A SERVICE PADA SISTEM E-ZAKAT
Authors: Fatihana T Mohammad Bakti
Published: August 2020

Zakat merupakan ibadah wajib bagi setiap muslim. Saat ini masih banyak lembaga zakat masih manual dalam melakukan pengarsipan data. Dengan adanya suatu sistem yang berbasis web dibutuhkan untuk mempermudah proses penyampaian informasi dan komunikasi yang efisien di sisi biaya dan pengoperasiannya. Komputasi awan (cloud computing) merupakan teknologi yang dapat memperluas akses jaringan serta mengurangi biaya karena jaringan awan beroperasi pada efisiensi yang lebih tinggi dan dengan pemanfaatan yang lebih besar, pengurangan biaya yang signifikan sering dijumpai. Penelitian ini membahas pada penerapan software as a service pada sistem zakat yang berfokus pada penerimaan dan penyaluran zakat. Objek yang digunakan dengan cara melakukan observasi di lembaga-lembaga zakat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa  sistem e-zakat yang telah dibuat dapat membantu lembaga zakat dalam melakukan penerimaan dan penyaluran zakat.

 

Kata Kunci: Cloud computing, Lembaga Zakat, Zakat
O controle democrático na construção do Plano Estadual de Educação em Direitos Humanos (PEEDH)
Authors: Rodrigues de Oliveira Pini Francisca ,  Hosokawa Wagner , Pereira Lima Tatiana , Gabriel dos Santos Eloisa
Published: August 2020

Este relato de experiência analisará o processo participativo e democrático na formulação do Plano Estadual de Educação em Direitos Humanos do Estado de São Paulo. O percurso foi desencadeado pelo Conselho Estadual da Pessoa Humana (Condepe), em 2017, contou com órgãos de Estado, movimentos sociais e organizações da sociedade civil envolvidos com a área dos direitos humanos. O controle democrático na construção da política de educação em direitos humanos, em particular, a experiência do Estado de São Paulo, demonstrou a capacidade organizativa e política do Condepe e dos movimentos sociais na coordenação dessa intervenção e nos possibilitou conhecer a viabilidade da política, das disputas existentes no campo da educação em direitos humanos e os desafios da conjuntura nacional, no que se refere à regressão de direitos. O Estado de São Paulo foi o terceiro Estado da federação a planejar uma ação que colocasse a educação em direitos humanos na cena política, em um contexto controverso e de retirada dos direitos sociais, políticos, econômicos e culturais. Podemos afirmar que a transversalidade do debate e a junção de forças políticas marcaram o percurso desse movimento. O projeto de uma educação emancipadora se mostrou viável, como aprendizado político, tendo em vista que não existem condições objetivas do ponto de vista administrativo e político para sua implementação, mas há um espaço no Condepe, para continuar tensionando esse direito, por meio da organização da sociedade civil e da interlocução com os órgãos do sistema de justiça.
Educação e formação em tempos e cenários de pandemia
Authors: Cericato Itale Luciane , Silva Jorge Luiz Barcellos da
Published: August 2020

Em meados de março de 2020, o governador do estado de São Paulo suspendeu as aulas presenciais nas instituições de ensino públicas e particulares em decorrência do início da pandemia de Covid-19. Naquela altura, o Estado era o epicentro de propagação do novo coronavírus no país e, embora a suspensão das aulas tivesse sido feita por tempo determinado, o exemplo de outros países e os estudos científicos divulgados pelo Imperial College London e suas embasadas evidências a respeito da disseminação do vírus tornavam perceptível que o retorno presencial às aulas não ocorreria em breve. Em face dessa conjuntura, o texto apresenta uma entrevista com a professora doutora Magali Aparecida Silvestre, pedagoga, mestre e doutora em Educação: Psicologia da Educação pela PUC-SP e professora associada da Universidade Federal de São Paulo
O Ensino domiciliar como política pública no Brasil
Authors: Septimio Carolline , de Souza Pessoa Márcio
Published: August 2020

O homeschooling consiste em um modelo de ensino contínuo no qual a família se dispõe a presidir diretamente o processo de ensino-aprendizagem de crianças e adolescentes até o final da educação básica. Tal prática não é permitida no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, porém a discussão ganha novo fôlego tanto por movimentação política quanto pelo julgamento de um recurso paradigma no Supremo Tribunal Federal. Nesse cenário, o objetivo deste artigo á analisar os desdobramentos de uma possível regulamentação do ensino domiciliar na formação das crianças e adolescentes. Como objetivos específicos, destaca-se: identificar os principais atores que marcam a questão do homeschooling no Brasil; analisar os fundamentos apresentados para justificar a implementação de uma política pública regulando a problemática; estudar as estruturas elementares das políticas públicas, em especial aquelas ligadas à educação básica e identificar os gargalos das políticas públicas educacionais. A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa bibliográfica, através de análise qualitativa. Neste sentido, afirma-se que a regulamentação dos projetos de Lei pela liberação do homeschooling não se mostra como uma solução capaz de resolver ou ao menos mitigar o problema, já que atenderia apenas a uma parcela muito reduzida da população que teria condições econômicas de suprir as escolas no âmbito doméstico, sendo a educação obrigação dos responsáveis para com o educando, um poder-dever, da família tanto quanto do Estado.
Desafíos actuales de la educación en derechos humanos
Authors: Siede Isabelino
Published: August 2020

¿Qué significa hoy educar en derechos humanos? ¿Para quién es relevante que esa educación exista? Este artículo aborda las tensiones entre la expectativa de educación en derechos humanos que predominaba en el contexto inicial de su formulación trasnacional y la que se puede postular en la actualidad. A partir de allí, presenta desafíos para la enseñanza en torno a la libertad, la solidaridad y las identidades plurales en igual dignidad, como tópicos de crítica y reorientación de la sociedad contemporánea. El derecho a aprender los derechos humanos incluye también el derecho a mantener abierta la sospecha sobre el uso de esta categoría jurídico-política como herramienta emancipatoria o instrumento de dominación. Afirmar esto conlleva un posicionamiento docente de aprendizaje cooperativo permanente, lejos de cualquier certeza rígida, al evaluar su potencia para educar sujetos críticos, creativos y comprometidos, dispuestos a participar en la construcción de un proyecto colectivo para toda la especie.
Apresentação do número temático “Educação em Direitos Humanos”
Authors: Olhares Equipe Editorial Olhares
Published: August 2020

Apresentação do número temático “Educação em Direitos Humanos”
Construction of Dual-Biofunctionalized Chitosan/Collagen Scaffolds for Simultaneous Neovascularization and Nerve Regeneration
Authors: Li Guicai , Han Qi , Lu Panjian , Zhang Liling , Zhang Yuezhou , Chen Shiyu , Zhang Ping , Zhang Luzhong , Cui Wenguo , Wang Hongkui , Zhang Hongbo
Published: August 2020

Biofunctionalization of artificial nerve implants by incorporation of specific bioactive factors has greatly enhanced the success of grafting procedures for peripheral nerve regeneration. However, most studies on novel biofunctionalized implants have emphasized the promotion of neuronal and axonal repair over vascularization, a process critical for long-term functional restoration. We constructed a dual-biofunctionalized chitosan/collagen composite scaffold with Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val (IKVAV) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by combining solution blending,
in situ
lyophilization, and surface biomodification. Immobilization of VEGF and IKVAV on the scaffolds was confirmed both qualitatively by staining and quantitatively by ELISA. Various single- and dual-biofunctionalized scaffolds were compared for the promotion of endothelial cell (EC) and Schwann cell (SC) proliferation as well as the induction of angiogenic and neuroregeneration-associated genes by these cells in culture. The efficacy of these scaffolds for vascularization was evaluated by implantation in chicken embryos, while functional repair capacity
in vivo
was assessed in rats subjected to a 10 mm sciatic nerve injury. Dual-biofunctionalized scaffolds supported robust EC and SC proliferation and upregulated the expression levels of multiple genes and proteins related to neuroregeneration and vascularization. Dual-biofunctionalized scaffolds demonstrated superior vascularization induction in embryos and greater promotion of vascularization, myelination, and functional recovery in rats. These findings support the clinical potential of VEGF/IKVAV dual-biofunctionalized chitosan/collagen composite scaffolds for facilitating peripheral nerve regeneration, making it an attractive candidate for repairing critical nerve defect. The study may provide a critical experimental and theoretical basis for the development and design of new artificial nerve implants with excellent biological performance.
Şanlıurfa Popülasyonunda Maksiller Sinüs Septa Morfoloji ve İnsidansının Retrospektif Olarak Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: DURMUŞ Halil İbrahim
Published: August 2020

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı; maksiller sinüste septa görülme sıklığını, septa sayısını, konumunu ve septanın maksiller sinüste yönelimini bilgisayarlı tomografi ile tespit etmektir. Ayrıca, sinus septasının hasta ile ilgili faktörleri olan yaş, cinsiyet ve dentisyon tipi ile ilişkisini değerlendirmektir.Materyal ve metod: Bu retrospektif çalışma Harran Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi hastanesine Ocak 2017-Ocak 2020 tarihleri arasında başvuran hastalardan alınmış görüntüler incelenerek yapıldı. Çalışmada etik kurul onayı Harran Üniversitesi Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu’dan HRU/20.09.08 sayılı kararı ile alınmıştır. Çalışma 500 adet baş boyun bölgesi bilgisayarlı tomografi görüntüsü değerlendirilerek gerçekleştirildi. Görüntüler incelenirken her hasta için, hastanın yaşı, cinsiyeti, hastanın dişli-kısmi dişli-tam dişsiz oluşu parametreleri kaydedildi. Septalar koronal, sagital ve transversal olmak üzere sınıflandırıldı.Bulgular: Toplam 500 adet bilgisayarlı tomografi görüntüsü incelendi. Bunların 446 tanesi dahil edilme kriterlerine uyduğundan çalışmaya dahil edildi. Böylece toplam 892 tane maksiller sinüs incelendi. İncelenen hastaların 198'i (%44,4) erkek ve 248’i (%55,6) kadındı. Hastaların ortalama yaşı 33.4, en küçüğü 18, en büyüğü 79 yaşındaydı. Hastaların 248’i (%55,6) tam dişli, 168’i(%37,7) kısmi dişli ve 30’u (%6.7) tam dişsizdi. 135 (%30,2) hastada en az bir septum tespit edildi. Bu hastaların 126 'sında (%93,3) sadece bir septum görülürken, 9’unda (% 6.7) birden fazla septum görüldü. Hastalarda toplam 146 adet septum tespit edildi. Maksiller sinüs septası prevelansı ile hastaların yaşı (p = 0.415), cinsiyeti (p = 0.443) ve dentisyon tipi (p = 0.078) arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunamamıştır. Maksiller sinüs septasının yönelim ve konumları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur (p = 0.017).Sonuç: Bu çalışma sonucunda popülasyonun yaklaşık üçte birinde maksiler sinüs septası olduğu görüldü. Yapılacak implant cerrahilerinin üç boyutlu görüntülerle planlanması yaşanabilecek komplikasyonların azalmasını sağlamaktadır. Ayrıca üç boyutlu görüntülerin iki boyutlu görüntülere dayalı planlamaları değiştirebileceği görüldü. Ancak bu çalışma sonuçlarının yapılacak daha kapsamlı çalışmalarla doğrulanmasına ihtiyaç olduğu değerlendirildi.
Tip 1 Diyabetli Hastalarda Mikroalbuminüri ve 24 Saatlik Kan Basıncı Monitörizasyonu Arasındaki İlişkinin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: ÇELAKIL Mehtap
Published: August 2020

Amaç: Diyabetik nefropati tip1 diyabetin(DM) önemli mortalite ve morbidite nedenlerindendir. Nefropatinin seyrini belirleyen en önemli göstergeler mikroalbuminüri ve hipertansiyondur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, tip 1 DM’li çocuklarda ve ergenlerde 24 saatlik ayaktan kan basıncı izleme(24sa holter) ile mikroalbuminüri korelasyonu ve nefropati üzerindeki prognostik faktörleri değerlendirmektir.Materyal ve metod: Tip 1 DM tanısı ile takipli 129 hastanın dosyası retrospektif olarak tarandı. 24 saatlik kan basıncı holteri takılmış, takip süresi> 3yıl, tanı yaşı 7-18 olan, tip1 DM ye ek bir kronik hastalığı bulunmayan 89 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastalar mikroalbuminürisi olan ve olmayan olmak üzere 2 gruba ayrıldı. Bu hastalar demografik (yaş, cinsiyet, tanı yaşı, takip süresi, sosyokültürel düzey) ve klinik özellikler(24 sa holter sonuçları, retinopati varlığı, ekokardiyografi bulguları, hemoglobin A1c düzeyleri, kronik böbrek hastalığı) açısından karşılaştırıldı.Bulgular: Hastaların 56(%62,9)’sında mikroalbuminüri varken, 33(%37,1) hastada mikroalbuminüri yoktu. Mikroalbuminüri olan 12(%21,4) hastada sistolik, 4(%7,1)’ünde diastolik, 3(%5,3)’ünde sistolik ve diastolik hipertansiyon mevcuttu. 31(%55,3) hastanın sistolik ve/veya diastolik hipertansiyonu yoktu. Ancak bu 31 hastanın 18(%58)’i sistolik non-dipper, 4(%12,9)’ü diastolik non-dipperdı. Mikroalbuminüri olmayan 33 hastanın 22(%66,6)’sinin 24 saatlik tansiyon holteri ise non-dipper idi. Ebeveynlerden en az birinin üniversite mezunu olduğu hasta sayısı mikroalbuminürik grupta 3(%5,3) iken, mikroalbuminürik olmayan grupta anlamlı derecede yüksekti (p<0.01).Sonuç: Tip 1 DM tanılı hastalarda diabetik nefropatinin takibi olarak mikroalbuminürinin yanında 24saatlik tansiyon holteri yapılması erken tanı için gerekli ve önemli olabilir
Peningkatan Minat dan Kemampuan Menyusun RPP Melalui Kegiatan In House Training pada SD Negeri 01 Windurojo Kecamatan Kesesi Semester Genap Tahun Pelajaran 2016/2017
Authors: Karmidi Karmidi
Published: August 2020

Kondisi awal Guru SD Negeri 01 Windurojo tahun pelajaran 2016/2017, baik minatmaupun kemampuan menyusun RPP rendah. Terbukti dari hasil pengamatan dan evaluasiyang peneliti lakukan, dalam melaksanakan proses pembelajaran banyak guru yang tidakmenggunakan RPP. Itu berarti mereka tidak menyusun rencana pembelajaran. Dari 12orang guru, 3 orang tidak menyusun RPP, dengan alasan tidak bisa (25%), 5 orang tidakbenar dalam menyusun RPP (42%), dan 4 orang kurang benar dalam menyusun RPP(33%). Tujuan Penelitian ini untuk meningkatkan minat maupun kemampuan menyusunRPP melalui pelaksanaan In House Training. Subyek penelitian ini adalah guru SDN 01Windurojo Kecamatan Kesesi yang berjumlah 10 guru. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitiantindakan kelas yang dilakukan dalam 2 (dua) siklus, Tehnik pengumpulan data melalui tesdan non tes, alat pengumpulan data berupa butir soal dan lembar pengamatan. Analisisdata dilakukan dengan analisis deskriptif komparatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan,kegiatan In House Training dapat meningkatkan minat dan kemampuan menyusun RPPpada guru SDN 01 Windurojo Kecamatan Kesesi.Kata Kunci: Minat, Kemampuan, RPP, In House Training