bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Present past and future of the OMZ in the northern Indian Ocean
Authors: Rixen Tim , Cowie Greg , Gaye Birgit , Goes Joaquim , do Rosário Gomes Helga , Hood Raleigh R. , Lachkar Zouhair , Schmidt Henrike , Segschneider Joachim , Singh Arvind
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Decreasing concentrations of dissolved oxygen and the resulting expansion of anaerobic ecosystems is a major threat to marine ecosystem services because it favors the formation of greenhouse gases such as methane, endangers the growth of economically important species, and increases the loss nitrate. Nitrate is one of the potential primary nutrients, which availability controls the marine productivity. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are home to ~ 59 % of the Earth's marine sediments exposed to severe oxygen depletion and approximately 21 % of the total volume of oxygen-depleted waters (oxygen minimum zones, OMZs). The balance between physical oxygen supply and the biological oxygen consumption controlled the oxygen concentrations. In the Arabian Sea and most likely also in the Bay of Bengal the supply of oxygen sustained by mixing and advection associated with mesoscale eddies compensated the biological oxygen consumption. These steady states maintain low (hypoxic) oxygen concentrations allowing the competition between anaerobic and aerobic processes. However, due to slightly higher oxygen concentrations, the aerobic nitrite oxidization inhibits the anaerobic nitrite reduction and thus denitrification (the reduction of nitrate to N2) to become significant in the Bay of Bengal. A feedback mechanism caused by the negative influence of decreasing oxygen concentrations on the biological oxygen demand helped to maintain these steady states. Furthermore, it might have also counteracted a reduced physical oxygen supply into the Arabian Sea caused by climate-driven changes in the ocean's circulation during the last 6000 years. However, due to human-induced global changes, the OMZs in Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal intensified and expanded, which included also the occurrence of anoxic events on the Indian shelf. This affects benthic ecosystems, and in the Arabian Sea it seems to have initiated a regime shift within the pelagic ecosystem structure. Consequences for biogeochemical cycles are unknown, which, in addition to the poor representation of mesoscale features reduces the reliability of predictions of the future OMZ development in the northern Indian Ocean.
A dense network of cosmic-ray neutron sensors for soil moisture observation in a pre-alpine headwater catchment in Germany
Authors: Fersch Benjamin , Francke Till , Heistermann Maik , Schrön Martin , Döpper Veronika , Jakobi Jannis , Baroni Gabriele , Blume Theresa , Bogena Heye , Budach Christian , Gränzig Tobias , Förster Michael , Güntner Andreas , Hendricks-Franssen Harrie-Jan , Kasner Mandy , Köhli Markus , Kleinschmit Birgit , Kunstmann Harald , Patil Amol , Rasche Daniel , Scheiffele Lena , Schmidt Ulrich , Szulc-Seyfried Sandra , Weimar Jannis , Zacharias Steffen , Zreda Marek , Heber Bernd , Kiese Ralf , Mares Vladimir , Mollenhauer Hannes , Völksch Ingo , Oswald Sascha
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Monitoring soil moisture is still a challenge: it varies strongly in space and time and at various scales while well established sensors typically suffer from a small spatial support. With a sensor footprint up to several hectares, Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) is an emerging technology to address that challenge. So far, the CRNS method has typically been applied with single sensors or in sparse national scale networks. This study presents, for the first time, a dense network of 24 CRNS stations that covered, from May to July 2019, an area of just 1 km2: the pre-alpine Rott headwater catchment in Southern Germany which is characterized by strong soil moisture gradients in a heterogeneous landscape with forests and grasslands. With substantially overlapping sensor footprints, that network was designed to study root zone soil moisture dynamics at the catchment-scale. The observations of the dense CRNS network were complemented by extensive measurements that allow to study soil moisture variability at various spatial scales: roving (mobile) CRNS units, remotely sensed thermal images from Unmanned Areal Systems (UAS), permanent and temporary wireless sensor networks, profile probes as well as comprehensive manual soil sampling. Since neutron counts are also affected by hydrogen pools other than soil moisture, vegetation biomass was monitored in forest and grassland patches, as well as meteorological variables; discharge and groundwater tables were recorded to support hydrological modeling experiments. As a result, we provide a unique and comprehensive dataset to several research communities: to those who investigate the retrieval of soil moisture from cosmic-ray neutron sensing, to those who study the variability of soil moisture at different spatio-temporal scales, and to those who intend to better understand the role of root-zone soil moisture dynamics in the context of catchment and groundwater hydrology, as well as land – atmosphere exchange processes. The data set is available through EUDAT, splitted into the two subsets https://doi.org/10.23728/b2share.85fe0f9dac0f48df9215c17e65d1f1e1 (Fersch et al., 2020a) and https://doi.org/10.23728/b2share.93ed99e486904d48a8a6a68083066198 (Fersch et al., 2020b).
Comparison of occurrence-bias-adjusting methods for hydrological impact modelling
Authors: Van de Velde Jorn , De Baets Bernard , Demuzere Matthias , Verhoest Niko E. C.
Published: April 2020

Abstract. Over the past decade, various methods for bias adjustment of precipitation occurrence or intensity have been proposed. However, the performance of combined methods has not yet been thoroughly evaluated, especially in a hydrological and climate change context. In this study, four occurrence-bias-adjusting methods are combined with one univariate and one multivariate intensity-bias-adjusting method. The occurrence-bias-adjusting methods include thresholding, Stochastic Singularity Removal, Triangular Distribution Adjustment, and are compared with the intensity-bias-adjusting methods without specific adjustment as a baseline. These combined methods are compared with respect to precipitation amount, precipitation occurrence and discharge. This comparison, summarized in terms of the residual bias relative to both the observations and the model bias,shows significant differences in performance. Occurrence-bias-adjusting methods that add stochasticity perform worse, an effect that is reinforced by multivariate intensity-bias-adjusting methods. The use of simpler methods is thus advised until the uncertainty caused by combining methods is better understood.
The Kilwa Massacre: Critical Analysis for a Southern Criminology
Authors: Lah Kim , Collins Anthony
Published: April 2020

This paper explores the 2004 Kilwa massacre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through a decolonial perspective, explaining how the massacre is situated within the history of colonial power and global capitalist relations. As such, the convergence of mining and political interests that created the context in which this violence was possible is examined, rather than the specific human rights abuses committed during the massacre. This approach highlights how such acts of violence are an ongoing factor of colonial and postcolonial exploitation, as well as the difficulties in holding the responsible parties accountable. This investigation shows the importance of developing a decolonial Southern criminology that contextualizes human rights abuses within local and international systems of power and locates acts of criminal violence within the broader networks of structural violence.
A glycolipid adjuvant, 7DW8-5, provides a protective effect against colonic inflammation in mice by the recruitment of CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells
Authors: Lee Chansu , Hong Sung Noh , Kim Young-Ho
Published: April 2020

Background/Aims: The modulation of CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells by glycolipids has been considered as a potential therapy against immunologic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. A recently identified a glycolipid analog, 7DW8-5, which is derived from α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), is as much as 100-fold more active at stimulating both human and mice NKT cells when compared to α-GalCer. We explored the effects of 7DW8-5 in mouse models of acute and chronic colitis.Methods: We investigated the effects of 7DW8-5 on intestinal inflammation by assessing the effects of 7dW8-5 on a murine dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis model and a chronic colitis-associated tumor model.Results: The acute DSS-induced colitis model showed a dose-dependent response to 7DW8-5, as mice administered 7DW8-5 showed a significant improvement in DSS-induced colitis based on their disease activity index, histologic analysis, and serum C-reactive protein levels, when compared to mice administered vehicle alone. However, DSS-induced colitis in CD1d-KO mice showed no response to 7DW8-5. A fluorescence-activating cell sorting analysis revealed an increase in NKT cells in colonic tissues of 7DW8-5-treated mice. RNA-seq and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed a significant increase in the expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and interferon-gamma in 7DW8-5-treated mice. In addition, 7DW8-5 treatment reduced colitis-associated tumor development in an azoxymethane/DSS mouse model.Conclusions: 7DW8-5 activates NKT cells through CD1d and provides a protective effect against intestinal inflammation in mice. Therefore, 7DW8-5 may be a promising therapeutic agent for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
La vida es sueñoReimagined: Inversion, Mimicry, andCommunitasin Teatro Inverso’sRosaura(2018)
Authors: Gascón Christopher D.
Published: April 2020

In Rosaura, Teatro Inverso revisits Calderón’s La vida es sueño as an arena of contention in which women struggle against men for control of their lives. Directors Sandra Arpa and Paula Rodríguez call into question systems of male privilege operant in the play and foreground the self-actualization process of their protagonist. To this end, they invert outcomes that consolidate male power in the original text by replacing key points in Segismundo’s trajectory with similarly pivotal moments in Rosaura’s development. In addition, they satirize phallocentrism through mimicry of the instruments, language, and gestures of male privilege. Throughout the action, the actors create a sense of community and inclusiveness by engaging their audience, humanizing themselves, and dispelling any illusions of absolute truth and authority, unlike the male characters contending for the throne in Calderón’s classic.
The Body Subject: Being True to the Truths of Experience
Authors: Sheets-Johnstone Maxine
Published: April 2020

The aim of this essay is to flesh out the body subject in ways anchored in Husserlian phenomenology. In accordance with this aim, it begins with clarifications essential to veridical phenomenological accounts of experience. The specific Husserlian insights that follow these clarifications are grounded in experienced realities of animate nature, a nature Husserl consistently describes in terms of an animate organism, a subject body. The ensuing two sections show how and why various descriptions and claims of contemporary phenomenologists, descriptions and claims commonly anchored in Merleau-Ponty’s writings on the body, fail to elucidate this body subject, and how and why, in bypassing Husserlian insights, the descriptions and claims are phenomenologically wayward.
Het enig erfgenaamschap en het tweetrapslegaat: vermenging?
Authors: Boelens G.G.B.
Published: April 2020

Het enig erfgenaamschap en het tweetrapslegaat: vermenging?

In deze bijdrage wordt onderzocht of een tweetrapslegaat (als alternatief voor de wettelijke verdeling) aan de langstlevende echtgenoot als enig erfgenaam (en bezwaarde) door vermenging tenietgaat.
Two Stability Criteria for Benzenoid Hydrocarbons and Their Relation
Authors: Gutman Ivan , Redžepović Izudin , Furtula Boris
Published: April 2020

A new, simple, relation is established between the total π-electron energy and the HOMO-LUMO gap, applicable to benzenoid hydrocarbons.
THE INFLUENCE OF MANUFACTURING PARAMETERS ON THE FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF 227 MM ROCKET ENGINE BODIES
Authors: BURDEK Marek , MARCISZ, Jarosław , Stępień Jerzy , SKOWRON Ewelina , KRÓL Józef
Published: April 2020

The paper presents a process of industrial fabrication of 227 mm calibre frames made of 15HGMVŻ grade lowcarbon steel. Influence of production technology parameters such as the state of material before forming and the degree of deformation during the forming on mechanical properties of frames was established. Optimal material properties after thermal improvement, and levels of deformation at a rotary forming process needed for getting the specific characteristics of final frames were indicated. The hardness across the frame wall was identified and the micro-structure was studied. Received results of tests indicate on correctness of the frame production process regarding the selection of parameters for thermal improvement and rates of deformation.
SMALL ARMS OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION ARMED FORCES
Authors: NAWROTEK Jarosław
Published: April 2020

Russia has been for many years one of main producers and exporters of arms and military equipment. But even if the Russian Military-industrial Complex still maintains a leading position, there is at least one domain where it was forced to quit positions kept during the Soviet Union and does not present any new achievements. The question refers to firearms where relatively low costs of manufacture are transformed on a few percentage share in the world arms trade. This market has a significant symbolic meaning for Russia despite of its modest financial dimension. Military operations require a deployment of infantry with its firearms, independently on state of the art technology of the arms used by the armies. Beside the armed forces, the firearms are used by special and antiterrorist services, police, border and coastal guards, and also by the structures dedicated for fighting the drugs trafficking.
Klimakrise: Fünf Chancen einer sozial-ökologischen Wende für die Freie Wohlfahrtspflege
Authors: Pieper Jonas
Published: April 2020

Der Klimawandel stellt unsere Gesellschaft, nein: die Menschheit weltweit, vor riesige Herausforderungen. Auch die Freie Wohlfahrtspflege ist davon betroffen.
Feature-Level Sentiment Analysis Based on Rules and Fine-Grained Domain Ontology
Authors: Wei Wie , Liu Yi-Ping , Wei Lei-Ru
Published: April 2020

Mining product reviews and sentiment analysis are of great significance, whether for academic research purposes or optimizing business strategies. We propose a feature-level sentiment analysis framework based on rules parsing and fine-grained domain ontology for Chinese reviews. Fine-grained ontology is used to describe synonymous expressions of product features, which are reflected in word changes in online reviews. First, a semiautomatic construction method is developed by using Word2Vec for fine-grained ontology. Then, feature-level sentiment analysis that combines rules parsing and the fine-grained domain ontology is conducted to extract explicit and implicit features from product reviews. Finally, the domain sentiment dictionary and context sentiment dictionary are established to identify sentiment polarities for the extracted feature-sentiment combinations. An experiment is conducted on the basis of product reviews crawled from Chinese e-commerce websites. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
A Systematic Analysis of Flood Ontologies: A Parametric Approach
Authors: Sinha Prasant Kumar , Dutta Biswanath
Published: April 2020

The article identifies the core literature available on flood ontologies and presents a review on these ontologies from various perspectives like its purpose, type, design methodologies, ontologies (re)used, and also their focus on specific flood disaster phases. The study was conducted in two stages: i) literature identification, where the systematic literature review methodology was employed; and, ii) ontological review, where the parametric approach was applied. The study resulted in a set of fourteen papers discussing the flood ontology (FO). The ontological review revealed that most of the flood ontologies were task ontologies, formal, modular, and used web ontology language (OWL) for their representation. The most (re)used ontologies were SWEET, SSN, Time, and Space. METHONTOLOGY was the preferred design methodology, and for evaluation, application-based or data-based approaches were preferred. The majority of the ontologies were built around the response phase of the disaster. The unavailability of the full ontologies somewhat restricted the current study as the structural ontology metrics are missing. But the scientific community, the developers, of flood disaster management systems can refer to this work for their research to see what is available in the literature on flood ontology and the other major domains essential in building the FO.
Nomenclature for Museum Cataloging
Authors: Dunn Heather , Bourcier Paul
Published: April 2020

We present an overview of Nomenclature’s history, characteristics, structure, use, management, development process, limitations, and future. Nomenclature for Museum Cataloging is a bilingual (English/French) structured and controlled list of object terms organized in a classification system to provide a basis for indexing and cataloging collections of human-made objects. It includes illustrations and bibliographic references as well as a user guide. It is used in the creation and management of object records in human history collections within museums and other organizations, and it focuses on objects relevant to North American history and culture. First published in 1978, Nomenclature is the most extensively used museum classification and controlled vocabulary for historical and ethnological collections in North America and represents thereby a de facto standard in the field. An online reference version of Nomenclature was made available in 2018, and it will be available under open license in 2020.
Auslandsrechtliche und fremdsprachliche rechtswissenschaftliche Veranstaltungen: Theoretische Überlegungen und praktische Erfahrungen
Authors: Gruber Joachim
Published: April 2020

Lange Zeit bestand die Internationalisierung der Juristenausbildung schlicht darin, dass deutsche Jurastudentinnen und -studenten auf eigene Initiative hin ins Ausland gingen und dort studierten, im Regelfall sogar einen akademischen Titel erwarben. Mittlerweile hat die Internationalisierung unmittelbar die deutschen Universitäten erreicht: Es werden nun Vorlesungen über fremdsprachliche Fachterminologien und zu ausländischen Rechtsordnungen an deutschen Universitäten gehalten sowie integrierte, d.h. mit einer ausländischen Universität abgestimmte, Studiengänge angeboten. Nachfolgend werden Überlegungen angestellt, was Inhalt solcher Vorlesungen in Deutschland sein sollte und worauf bei der Etablierung von integrierten Studiengängen zu achten ist.
What can we learn from open questions in surveys? A case study on non-voting reported in the 2013 German longitudinal election study
Authors: Silber Henning , Zuell Cornelia , Kuehnel Steffen-M.
Published: April 2020

Open survey questions are often used to evaluate closed questions. However, they can fulfil this function only if there is a strong link between answers to open questions and answers to related closed questions. Using reasons for non-voting reported in the German Longitudinal Election Study 2013, we investigated this link by examining whether the reported reasons for non-voting may be substantive reasons or ex-post legitimations. We tested five theoretically derived hypotheses about respondents who gave, or did not give, a specific reason. Results showed that (a) answers to open questions were indeed related to answers to closed questions and could be used in explanatory turnout models to predict voting behavior, and (b) the relationship between answers to open and closed questions and the predictive power of reasons given in response to the open questions were stronger in the post-election survey (reported behavior) than in the pre-election survey (intended behavior).
Multifatorialidade em saúde ambiental
Authors: Almeida Josimar Ribeiro de , Silva Carlos Eduardo , Silva Cleber Vinicius Vitorio da , Aguiar Laís Alencar de , Garcia Vanessa da Silva , Souza Camilo Pinto de , Lenz Elenice Rachid da Silva , Lins Gustavo Aveiro , Almeida Solange Mathias de
Published: April 2020

A investigação multifatorial é uma técnica de análise que pode ser usada simultaneamente para explorar o relacionamento entre inúmeras variáveis alicerçadas em fatores independentes. O procedimento é calcado no exercício epistemológico e no empirismo do observador. Na pesquisa e análise epidemiológica, é ferramenta cabal para o entendimento profundo da história evolutiva de uma doença, donde a doença sempre tem início em ações que geram a degradação ambiental, isto é, a doença é o resultado final de um efeito cascata que tem sua gênese no desequilíbrio ambiental e a sua manutenção por ações deletérias do Estado fundamentado em um modelo econômico neoliberal. A interface e o panorama de discussões deste trabalho científico foi edificado na interdisciplinaridade, tendo base nas ciências políticas, sociais e biológicas, possibilitando assim um esquema de investigação da sinergia e homeostase da doença, outrossim como objeto de estudo foram investigadas as principais doenças tropicais brasileiras e o coronavírus (COVID-19).
Cuatic
Authors: Marín Antoni , Albadalejo Carlos
Published: April 2020

Hemos entrevistado a los integrantes de Cuatic, una agencia de Barcelona especializada en la interactividad en el mundo off line. Estos tres expertos en llevar la interactividad más allá de las fronteras que marca el uso del ordenador explican su trabajo y realizan un ejercicio de prospectiva sobre el futuro del campo.
Sonar 2006: naturalezas muertas, tecnologías vivas
Authors: Albadalejo Carlos
Published: April 2020

La decimotercera edición del Festival Internacional de Música Avanzada y Arte Multimedia Sonar 2006 tuvo lugar los pasados 16, 17 y 18 de Junio en el complejo cultural CCCB-MACBA de Barcelona, en sus tres jornadas diurnas, y en el recinto Fira Gran Vía2, en las dos nocturnas. Los miles de visitantes que tuvo el evento pudieron disfrutar de una interminable lista de actuaciones musicales que incluían algunos de los nombres más vanguardistas de los últimos tiempos, que contaba con nombres de máxima relevancia como Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dj Shadow, Chic, The Knife, The Liars, Herbert, Isolée, Señor Coconut and His Orchestra, The MFA o Scissor Sisters.
Chromosome organization by one-sided and two-sided loop extrusion
Authors: Banigan Edward J , van den Berg Aafke A , Brandão Hugo B , Marko John F , Mirny Leonid A
Published: April 2020

SMC complexes, such as condensin or cohesin, organize chromatin throughout the cell cycle by a process known as loop extrusion. SMC complexes reel in DNA, extruding and progressively growing DNA loops. Modeling assuming two-sided loop extrusion reproduces key features of chromatin organization across different organisms. In vitro single-molecule experiments confirmed that yeast condensins extrude loops, however, they remain anchored to their loading sites and extrude loops in a ‘one-sided’ manner. We therefore simulate one-sided loop extrusion to investigate whether ‘one-sided’ complexes can compact mitotic chromosomes, organize interphase domains, and juxtapose bacterial chromosomal arms, as can be done by ‘two-sided’ loop extruders. While one-sided loop extrusion cannot reproduce these phenomena, variants can recapitulate in vivo observations. We predict that SMC complexes in vivo constitute effectively two-sided motors or exhibit biased loading and propose relevant experiments. Our work suggests that loop extrusion is a viable general mechanism of chromatin organization.
Zebrafish embryonic explants undergo genetically encoded self-assembly
Authors: Schauer Alexandra , Pinheiro Diana , Hauschild Robert , Heisenberg Carl-Philipp
Published: April 2020

Embryonic stem cell cultures are thought to self-organize into embryoid bodies, able to undergo symmetry-breaking, germ layer specification and even morphogenesis. Yet, it is unclear how to reconcile this remarkable self-organization capacity with classical experiments demonstrating key roles for extrinsic biases by maternal factors and/or extraembryonic tissues in embryogenesis. Here, we show that zebrafish embryonic tissue explants, prepared prior to germ layer induction and lacking extraembryonic tissues, can specify all germ layers and form a seemingly complete mesendoderm anlage. Importantly, explant organization requires polarized inheritance of maternal factors from dorsal-marginal regions of the blastoderm. Moreover, induction of endoderm and head-mesoderm, which require peak Nodal-signaling levels, is highly variable in explants, reminiscent of embryos with reduced Nodal signals from the extraembryonic tissues. Together, these data suggest that zebrafish explants do not undergo bona fide self-organization, but rather display features of genetically encoded self-assembly, where intrinsic genetic programs control the emergence of order.
DESENVOLVIMENTO DO CONCEITO DE DENSIDADE NO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL / DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF DENSITY IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Authors: Martin Maria da Graça Moraes Braga , Borges Assis Vieira
Published: April 2020

Este trabalho apresenta uma pesquisa sobre o desenvolvimento do conceito de densidade. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma escola estadual do Ensino Fundamental (EF) em Joinville, envolvendo a participação de 75 alunos de três turmas do 9° ano. A pesquisa teve como objetivo principal, planejar e realizar uma Sequência Didática (SD) sobre o conceito de densidade. Os objetivos específicos foram analisar a apropriação do conceito de densidade pelos estudantes, levá-los a serem protagonistas, investigadores e capacitar a descoberta de significados e relações a partir das atividades propostas na SD. Como base foi utilizada a Pedagogia Histórico Crítica (PHC). Foi possível perceber a apropriação do conhecimento dos alunos através da análise de suas respostas e da participação individual no projeto, demonstrando a importância de trabalhar com projetos em que os alunos sejam sujeitos ativos de sua aprendizagem. Deve-se destacar a dificuldade com cálculos matemáticos sinalizada durante a execução das atividades.
Production Time and Nutritional Assessment of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum L.) Leaves for Ethno-botanical Uses in Bangladesh
Authors: Polash Mohammed Arif Sadik , Sakil Md. Arif , Sazia Shahida , Rahman Md. Atikur , Hossain Md. Alamgir
Published: April 2020

Aim: Futility of current health care systems for nourishment is a challenge to health professionals and researchers. Moreover, the high economic load and side effects necessitates the identification of natural and cheap products for nourishment. Reflecting those points, this research was aimed to evaluate the nutritional properties of garden cress leaves along with suitable production time in Bangladesh.

Introduction: Garden cress has been used in different countries for nourishment and treatment of different types of diseases but is new to Bangladesh. Successful production practices are indispensible for meeting the economic demand. The present research work was designed to establish a suitable production time for high biomass yield and evaluation of nutritional properties of garden cress leaves for ethno-botanical uses.

Methodology: Factorial experiment with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications was used to accomplish the experiment replications in different months (July to October from 2017 to 2019). Seeds were shown in pots on 1st July, 1st August, 1st September and 1st October. Relevant data were taken at 40 days from sowing.

Results: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed the production parameters such as shoot height (31.43 cm), root length (6.67 cm), leaf area plant-1 (35.38), shoot fresh and dry weight (1.57 and 0.33 g) was the highest in October planting. In case of nutritional assessment, an attempt was made to establish the variation of chlorophyll, vitamin C and nitrate concentration over planting time and minerals and proximate composition over garden cress seeds. The chlorophyll (1.0 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight), vitamin C (0.93 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight) and nitrate (391.00 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight) concentration was the highest in the October planting. Mineral content, i.e. sodium (73.67 mg 100 g-1 dry weight), potassium (1821.00 mg 100 g-1 dry weight) and calcium (578.67 mg 100 g-1 dry weight) was higher in leaves than seeds, except iron concentration, though proximate composition was higher  in seeds than leaves, except moisture.

Conclusions: Winter planting (October) may attain higher biomass (leaf) production and its leaves could be a fresh source of bioactive compounds, minerals and vitamins.
A Soft Sensorized Microfluidic Tubular Actuating Gripper
Authors: Soon Ren Hao , Yu Longteng , Lim Chwee Teck
Published: April 2020

One of the key challenges in soft robotics today is in providing sensory feedback of an object to a gripper. In this work, a soft microtubular actuator which can not only interact but also sense its environment is reported. As the sensor is enclosed within the same structure as the actuator, the sensor is able to conform well to the whole range of actuating motion and is able to provide accurate sensor readings. As a proof of concept, the sensorized microtubular actuator is deployed as a microgripper. The microgripper demonstrates the ability to grip a variety of objects, including an ant, without damaging it. While similar grippers with integrated sensing elements do exist, the grippers produced in this work have a maximum diameter of 2 mm, which translate to a tenfold reduction in size over the state of the art. This allows the microgripper to conduct in situ monitoring of strain levels or establish if contact with an object has been made. The sensor experiences minimal electrical drift and hysteresis despite repeated loading cycles (1000 cycles). Taken together, these advantages demonstrate the potential of the microgripper for a variety of applications, especially in soft medical robotics.
A Two‐Step Approach for the Conversion of Technical Lignins to Biofuels
Authors: Figueirêdo Monique B. , Venderbosch Robertus H. , Deuss Peter J. , Heeres Hero Jan
Published: April 2020

Lignocellulose is a widely available carbon source and a promising feedstock for the production of advanced second‐generation biofuels. Nonetheless, lignin, one of its major components, is largely underutilized and only considered an undesired byproduct. Through catalytic hydrotreatment, the highly condensed lignin can be partially depolymerized into a range of monomers. However, its recalcitrance and the presence of aromatic fragments linked by CC bonds require extensive cracking, which is challenging to achieve. Here, a two‐step strategy is reported in which an initial pretreatment step with ozone is used prior to catalytic hydrotreatment to boost lignin depolymerization. Three types of lignin (Kraft, pyrolytic, and Fabiola organosolv) are used as feedstocks and the ozonation step is performed under ambient conditions with either methanol or ethanol as the solvent. The pretreatment is shown to have a positive effect on the subsequent hydrotreatment reaction (Pd/C, 350 °C, 100 bar H2) and gives product oils with significantly lower Mw (up to 43% lower), higher volatility, and improved calorific values (up to 45.3 MJ kg−1) compared to a direct hydrotreatment.
Transconductance Amplification in Dirac‐Source Field‐Effect Transistors Enabled by Graphene/Nanotube Hereojunctions
Authors: Xu Lin , Qiu Chenguang , Peng Lian‐Mao , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: April 2020

Steep‐slope devices are predicted to provide excellent quality for analog integrated circuit applications due to their high transconductance efficiency (gm/Ids) breaking the metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor limit (38.5 V−1). The potential advantage of a Dirac‐source FET (DSFET) as an analog transistor is explored based on a graphene/carbon nanotube (CNT) heterojunction. A high gm/Ids beyond 38.5 V−1 over four decades of current is experimentally demonstrated in an individual CNT‐based DSFET, reaching a peak value of 66 V−1, which is a new record for all reported transistors. Importantly, this high gm/Ids extends beyond the subthreshold region and leads to transconductance amplification in the overthreshold region. The best peak transconductance at a low bias of −0.1 V exceeds 20 µS per tube, which has approximately threefold improvement over that of a normal CNT FET with a shorter gate length. Outperforming other advanced devices, the extended high transconductance efficiency greatly promotes DSFET competitiveness in the high‐precision analog field.
The effects of Lycium barbarum water extract and fish collagen on milk proteolysis and in vitro angiotensin I‐converting enzyme inhibitory activity of yogurt
Authors: Shori Amal Bakr , Ming Kong Siew , Baba Ahmad Salihin
Published: April 2020

Plain and Lycium barbarum yogurt were made in the presence and absence of fish collagen. Yogurt samples were analyzed for acidification, milk protein proteolysis, angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, and sensory evaluation during refrigerated storage for up to 21 days. The o‐phthaldialdehyde peptides amount of L. barbarum yogurt both in the presence and absence of fish collagen were significantly increased during 14 days of storage. SDS‐PAGE showed improvement in whey proteins degradation of L. barbarum yogurt with/without fish collagen after 3 weeks of storage. L. barbarum yogurt in absence of fish collagen was acting as a great ACE inhibitor reached up to 85% on day 7 of storage. The incorporation of L. barbarum and/or fish collagen affected to a small extent the overall sensory characteristics of yogurt. Yogurt supplemented with L. barbarum and/or fish collagen may lead to the improvement in the production and formulation of yogurt differing in their anti‐ACE activity.
Relationship of aortic bifurcation with sacropelvic anatomy: Application to anterior lumbar interbody fusion
Authors: Baker Joseph F. , Chan Jonathan C. , Moon Benjamin G. , Robertson Peter A.
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Various sacropelvic parameters such as the pelvic Incidence (PI) are used to predict ideal lumbar lordosis and aid surgical planning. The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between the location of the aortic bifurcation from the sacral promontory and sacropelvic measures including the PI.

Materials and Methods

One hundred sixty five computed tomography (CT) scans obtained for major trauma including the entire spine were identified. Sacropelvic parameters including PI, sacral anatomic orientation, pelvic thickness (PTH), and sacral table angle were measured. Aortic bifurcation was identified on sagittal and coronal imaging and the distance from the sacral promontory (bifurcation‐promontory distance [BPD]) measured (mm).

Results

Mean age of the cohort was 44.3 years (SD 18.5; range 16–88 years); 61.8% male. The mean PI was 49.2° (SD 10.2°; range 30°–80°). The mean BPD was 66.4 mm (SD 13.1 mm; range 38.3–100 mm). In the majority, the bifurcation was at the level of the L4 vertebral body (72.7%). Only age (r = −.389; p < .0001) and PTH (r = .172; p = .027) correlated with the BPD to a significant degree. PI did not correlate with BPD (r = .061; p = .435). Linear regression analysis provided the following predictive equation: BPD = 34.3 mm + 0.30 × PTH.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates a lack of any meaningful correlation between sagittal pelvic parameters and the distance of the aortic bifurcation from the sacral promontory. Surgical planning for fusion surgery in the lumbar spine should include assessment of spinopelvic parameters and if anterior access to the lumbar disc(s) necessary, vascular anatomy should be carefully assessed independent of these measures.
Client preferences in counselling for alcohol problems: A qualitative investigation
Authors: Walls Jillian , McLeod Julia , McLeod John
Published: April 2020

Background

Incorporating client expectations and preferences into the counselling process can lead to more positive outcomes and lower rates of dropout.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore preferences for counselling held by clients prior to the commencement of therapy.

Method

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with five clients seeking help from an alcohol counselling service and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Each client described a distinctive individual preference profile. While holding clear preferences for what would be helpful in counselling, clients were also open to new possibilities. They possessed a personal understanding of why certain activities and types of relationship might be helpful for them, and an appreciation of the types of therapeutic process that might lead them to quit therapy.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that clients are able to articulate their preferences, when offered the opportunity, and that qualitative methods have the potential to open up new understanding of the structure and meaning of preferences from the point of view of the client.
Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of (R)‐ and (S)‐ricinoleic acid derivatives
Authors: Blaszczyk Alina , Matysiak Sylwia , Kula Jozef , Szostakiewicz Katarzyna , Karkusiewicz Zaneta
Published: April 2020

(R)‐ricinoleic acid is the main component of castor oil from Ricinus communis L. Due to the presence of the hydroxyl group in homoallylic position and asymmetrically substituted carbon atom, it may undergo a number of chemical and biochemical transformations resulting in the products with some specific bioactivities. Conversion of (R)‐ricinoleic acid into its (S)‐enantiomer enables synthesis of both (R)‐ and (S)‐ricinoleic acid derivatives and comparison of their biological activities. In the present research, (R)‐ and (S)‐ricinoleic acid amides synthesized from methyl ricinoleates and ethanolamine or pyrrolidine as well as acetate derivatives of ethanolamine amides were studied to demonstrate their biological activities using HT29 cancer cells. Double staining of cells with fluorochromes (Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide) as well as 2,′7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) and comet assays were performed. Both the tested amides and acetates caused DNA damage and induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death. In the case of (R)‐ and (S)‐enantiomers of one of the tested acetates, significant difference in the ability to induce DNA damage was observed, which showed the impact of the stereogenic center on the activities of these compounds.
Post‐acute symptomatic seizure (PASS) clinic: A continuity of care model for patients impacted by continuous EEG monitoring
Authors: Punia Vineet , Chandan Pradeep , Fesler Jessica , Newey Christopher R. , Hantus Stephen
Published: April 2020

Objective

We present a model for the outpatient care of patients undergoing continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) monitoring during a hospitalization, named the post‐acute symptomatic seizure (PASS) clinic. We investigated whether establishing this clinic led to improved access to epileptologist care.

Methods

As part of the PASS clinic initiative, electronic health record (EHR) provides an automated alert to the inpatient care team discharging adults on first time antiepileptic drug (AED) after undergoing cEEG monitoring. The alert explains the rationale and facilitates scheduling for a PASS clinic appointment, three‐month after discharge, along with a same‐day extended (75 minutes) EEG. We compared the initial epilepsy clinic visits by patients undergoing cEEG in 2017, before (“Pre‐PASS” period and cohort) and after (“PASS” period and cohort) the alert went live in the EHR.

Results

Of the 170 patients included, 68 (40%) suffered a seizure during the mean follow‐up of 20.9 ± 10 months. AEDs were stopped or reduced in 66 out of 148 (44.6%) patients discharged on AEDs. Pre‐PASS cohort included 45 patients compared to 145 patients in the PASS cohort, accounting for 5.8% and 9.9% of patients, respectively, who underwent cEEG during the corresponding periods (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.26‐2.54, P = .001). The two cohorts did not differ in terms of electrographic or clinical seizures. The PASS cohort was significantly more likely to be followed up within 1‐6 months of discharge (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2.1‐10.1, P < .001) and have a pre‐clinic EEG (51.2% vs 11.1%; OR = 8.39, 95% CI = 3.1‐22.67, P < .001).

Significance

PASS clinic, a unique outpatient transition of care model for managing patients at risk of acute symptomatic seizure led to an almost twofold increase in access to an epileptologist. Future research should address the wide knowledge gap about the best post‐hospital discharge management practices for these patients.
Modification of PPy‐NW Anode by Carbon Dots for High‐performance Mini‐microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Li B. , Zhao Z. , Weng Z. , Fang Y. , Lei W. , Zhu D. , Jiang H. , Bin Mohtar M. N. , bin Abdul Halin I.
Published: April 2020

To boost the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), a novel material of polypyrrole nanowires (PPy‐NWs) modified by carbon dots (CDs) is synthesized by polymerizing pyrrole monomers and CDs, in which CDs are attached and distributed on the surface of the PPy‐NWs, thus leading to the rough surface with a special dot‐line structure. Such CDs/PPy‐NW composite with special unique structure exhibits superior properties, and excellent performance is found for MFC using CDs/PPy‐NW composite as anode. The electron transfer rate increases to 0.0934 s−1 with a sharp rise by 26% over pure PPy‐NWs, and the resistances of CDs/PPy‐NW electrode are only one third of those of pure PPy‐NWs electrode. Further, the mini‐MFC equipped with the CDs/PPy‐NW composite as anode exhibits a high open circuit voltage (630 mV) and its maximum power density with a value of 291.4 mW m−2 is twice that of the mini‐MFC equipped with pure PPy‐NWs anode. These results demonstrate CDs/PPy‐NW with a unique dot‐line structure as a more promising anode material for MFC application.
Predictors of accidents in people with mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls in simulated driving
Authors: Economou Alexandra , Pavlou Dimosthenis , Beratis Ion , Andronas Nikolaos , Papadimitriou Eleonora , Papageorgiou Sokratis G. , Yannis George
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To examine the driving variables that predict accident probability in mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy older control drivers in simulated driving. To compare the three groups in mean performance and in frequency of scores exceeding 1.5 SD from the mean.

Methods/Design

Participants were 37 drivers with MCI, 16 drivers with AD, and 21 control drivers over the age of 52. Driving measures were derived from four rural driving conditions: moderate traffic without and with distraction and high traffic without and with distraction. The measures were z‐transformed based on the performance of 90 control drivers of different ages. Two unexpected incidents occurred per condition, requiring the sudden breaking to avoid an accident.

Results

Drivers with AD showed significantly lower average speed, speed variability, greater headway distance, headway variability and average reaction time (RT) than control drivers. Drivers with MCI showed significantly lower average speed, greater headway distance and average RT than control drivers in the two conditions of distraction. No differences were found in accident probability. Drivers with AD had more deviant scores than both control drivers and drivers with MCI in most comparisons. Predictors of accident probability were average RT, speed variability and lateral position variability but MCI and AD status were not significant predictors in any of the regression models.

Conclusions

Despite significant differences in performance, drivers with MCI and AD did not differ in accident probability from control drivers. An individualized approach of examining individual driving performance is recommended.
Modified transform‐based gamma correction for MRI tumor image denoising and segmentation by optimized histon‐based elephant herding algorithm
Authors: Kollem Sreedhar , Rama Linga Reddy Katta , Srinivasa Rao Duggirala
Published: April 2020

Medical image processing is typically performed to diagnose a patient's brain tumor prior to surgery. In this study, a technique in denoising and segmentation was developed to improve medical image processing. The proposed approach employs multiple modules. In the first module, the noisy brain tumor image is transformed into multiple low‐ and high‐pass tetrolet coefficients. In the second module, multiple low‐pass tetrolet coefficients are applied through a modified transform‐based gamma correction method. Generalized cross‐validation is used on multiple high‐pass tetrolet coefficients to obtain the best threshold value. In the third module, all enhanced coefficients are applied to the partial differential equation method. In the final module, the denoised image is applied to Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy set histon‐based fuzzy clustering method with centroid optimization using an elephant herding method. Accordingly, the tumor part is segmented from the nontumor part in the magnetic resonance imaging brain images. The method was assessed in terms of peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, mean square error, specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy. The experimental results showed that the suggested method is superior to traditional methods.
Hierarchic control of a linear heat equation with missing data
Authors: Foko Tiomela Romario Gildas , Mophou Gisèle , N'Guérékata Gaston
Published: April 2020

The paper is devoted to the Stackelberg control of a linear parabolic equation with missing initial condition. The strategy involves two controls called follower and leader. The objective of the follower is to bring the state to a desired state while the leader has to bring the system to rest at the final time. The results are obtained by means of Fenchel–Legendre transform and appropriate Carleman inequalities.
Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Stearic Acid Phosphotyrosine Amide as New Excipient for Zeta Potential Changing Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Prüfert Felix , Fischer Franz , Leichner Christina , Zaichik Sergey , Bernkop-Schnürch Andreas
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Development of zeta potential changing SEDDS containing newly synthesized derivative stearic acid phosphotyrosine amide.

Methods

Stearoyl chloride was conjugated with phosphotyrosine, which is substrate for the brush border enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphate. The synthesized derivative was implemented in different SEDDS formulations and the zeta potential changing properties and the concluding mucus diffusion abilities were evaluated.

Results

Stearic acid phosphotyrosine amide was successfully synthesized and incorporated into SEDDS. A SEDDS formulation containing the new derivative showed a zeta potential of −14 mV before, and + 2 mV after enzymatic cleavage by intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Experiments on a Caco-2 monolayer demonstrated that the phosphate cannot only be cleaved by isolated enzyme, but also by enzyme, which was expressed by cells. The mucus diffusion abilities of the untreated, negatively charged SEDDS were significantly higher compared to the enzymatically cleaved, positively charged SEDDS.

Conclusion

The developed stearic acid phosphotyrosine represents a promising excipient for zeta potential changing SEDDS.