bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desempenho fisiológico de sementes de soja RR em subdoses de Glifosato submetidas ao bioestimulante
Authors: Oliveira Tábata Raissa de , Thomé Silvia Elena Navarrete , Andrade Maria Gabriela de Oliveira , Contardi Lucymara Merquides , Lima Sebastião Ferreira de
Published: October 2020

A soja transgênica apresenta mecanismo de resistência ao Glifosato, mas existem estudos que demonstram efeitos negativos desse herbicida sobre a fase inicial de desenvolvimento da semente. Também há relatos que o uso do bioestimulante evitam a perda de vigor da semente na fase inicial quando em contato com o Glifosato. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de subdoses de glifosato e bioestimulante em sementes de soja. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2x5, com quatro repetições. As sementes foram submetidas a cinco subdoses de Glifosato zapp 620 (0; 3,5; 7,0; 10,5 e 14 mL-1 L) e ao tratamento de sementes com Stimulate® à 0 e 7,5 mL L-1. Em laboratório, as unidades experimentais constituíram-se de rolos de papel de germinação com as sementes de soja, para avaliar testes de primeira contagem da germinação, envelhecimento acelerado, teste frio, comprimento de raízes e parte aérea, condutividade elétrica, massa seca de raiz e parte aérea e germinação total. Os tratamentos com bioestimulante na semente sob subdoses de Glifosato aumentam a germinação total das plântulas e apresentam maior vigor para os testes de resistências, porém reduz o vigor e diminui a taxa de crescimento e acúmulo de matéria seca da parte aérea e raiz.
A mediação judicial trabalhista a partir da experiência do CEJUSC-JT/Olinda: um estudo de caso
Authors: Vasconcelos Yumara Lúcia , Silva Ana Cristina da , Remígio Adlineri Saile Nogueira Mariano , Albuquerque José de Lima , Luna Maria José Matos
Published: October 2020

Parte de uma investigação mais ampla, esta pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar a prática da mediação trabalhista sob a perspectiva dos mediadores e da experiência institucional desenvolvida na unidade-caso, o Centro Judiciário de Métodos Consensuais de Solução de Disputas (CEJUSC-JT/Olinda).  Em plano secundário, visou-se explorar a experiência do Centro, evidenciando os fatores determinantes de desempenho, bem como os desafios enfrentados nesta prática. Nesse intento, adotou-se como estratégia metodológica, de design essencialmente qualitativo, a triangulação de métodos (documentário, estudo de caso e Grounded theory), seguido da análise de conteúdo. A imersão ratificou o sucesso do modelo, destacando a repercussão de iniciativas da coordenação do CEJUSC-JT/Olinda e sua equipe, especialmente mediadores. De fato, as teorias substantivas formuladas encaminharam à identificação dos fatores de êxito, a exemplo da preparação do ambiente e das pessoas envolvidas nos procedimentos mediatórios. As práticas do Centro se diferenciam na periferia do rito legal (obrigatório) por meio de suas políticas e ações. Dentre estas políticas, destaca-se aquela de autocuidado, voltado para as pessoas envolvidas nas atividades do Centro, mediadores e equipe de apoio. No que concerne aos desafios estruturais, destaca-se a resistência das partes às experiências de mediação e conciliação, o ânimo belicoso presente em algumas relações e as próprias limitações da prática nos casos de conflitos que envolvem danos existenciais. Esses resultados remeteram à constatação da necessidade de proceder-se à triagem dos conflitos, visando tratamento mais eficiente e eficaz.
Facilidades e dificuldades vivenciadas pela família no cuidado a crianças com necessidades especiais de saúde
Authors: Leite Fernanda Lucas Lopes de Meirelles , Gomes Giovana Calcagno , Minasi Alex Sandra Avila , Nobre Camila Magroski Goulart , Soares Marina Mota
Published: October 2020

Objetivos: conhecer as facilidades e dificuldades da família no cuidado a crianças com necessidades especiais de saúde. Metodologia: pesquisa exploratória e descritiva de cunho qualitativo realizada com dezesseis familiares de crianças com necessidades especiais de saúde egressas de uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal do sul do Brasil. A coleta dos dados ocorreu entre os meses de março a julho de 2016 por entrevistas e submetidos à análise temática. Aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa na Área de Saúde (CEPAS) sob número 063/2014. Resultados: como facilidades referiram o encorajamento e o preparo adquirido durante a internação na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal, ter acesso aos diferentes serviços de saúde necessários ao tratamento da criança e receber um benefício financeiro do governo, contar uma rede de apoio familiar, o reconhecimento das habilidades da criança e o fato desta se sentir com autoestima elevada. Como dificuldades referiram o impacto negativo que a internação hospitalar pode representar, medo da perda da criança, ter que dividir-se entre a criança no hospital e o resto da família, afetando também o casamento, falta de tempo para o autocuidado do cuidador, e de impor limites na educação da criança. Conclusão do estudo: o cuidado familiar é complexo, sendo necessário rever e refletir as práticas de cuidados pelos profissionais de saúde, melhorando os métodos interativos com a família para subsidiá-la a vivenciar o cuidado a criança com necessidades especiais de saúde.
Mecanismos de ação do fosfito de potássio no crescimento e desenvolvimento de Phytophthora nicotianae, agente causal da gomose em citros
Authors: Rezende Dalilla Carvalho , Brandão Dayson Fernando Ribeiro , Brand Simone Cristiane , Blumer Silvia , Pascholati Sérgio Florentino , Mafra Natália Moreira
Published: October 2020

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito direto do Phytogard®, produto à base de fosfito de potássio, sobre o desenvolvimento de Phytophthora nicotianae e verificar possíveis mecanismos de ação desse produto sobre o patógeno. O micélio do patógeno foi exposto a concentrações crescentes de Phytogard® sendo avaliado o crescimento micelial, produção de massa fresca de micélio e produção de zoósporos. Quanto aos possíveis mecanismos de ação do Phytogard® sobre P. nicotianae, avaliou-se a morfologia das hifas, perda de eletrólitos, peroxidação de lipídios, síntese de proteínas e atividade da enzima β-1,3-glucanase. O micélio do patógeno foi inibido à medida que se aumentou a concentração de fosfito. A produção de zoósporos foi reduzida a partir da menor concentração de Phytogard® utilizada. Houve mudanças morfológicas nas hifas do patógeno e a perda de eletrólitos foi crescente à medida que se aumentou a concentração do produto e ao longo do tempo. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos nas análises de peroxidação de lipídios e proteínas totais. Houve decréscimo na atividade da enzima β-1,3-glucanase à medida que as concentrações de Phytogard® aumentaram. Conclui-se que o Phytogard® inibe o crescimento micelial, a produção de massa fresca de micélio e de zoósporos de P. nicotianae. Além disso, o produto diminui a espessura das hifas e aumenta o número de ramificações atrofiadas, além de prejudicar a permeabilidade da membrana plasmática e a síntese de parede celular do patógeno.
The mapping of ovarian cancer mortality trends in Brazil
Authors: Santos Lander dos , Roszkowski Igor , Dutra Amanda de Carvalho , Tomas Adriana Cunha Vargas , Pelloso Fernando Castilho , Andrade Luciano de , Pedroso Raissa Bocchi , Carvalho Maria Dalva de Barros , Melo Willian Augusto de , Pelloso Sandra Marisa
Published: October 2020

Ovarian cancer is the eighth cause of death by cancer in women worldwide. The objective of this study was to analyze trends in the Brazilian ovarian cancer mortality and the relation to age, schooling, and race. Data was collected in the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM), from 2006 to 2016. The polynomial regression model was used for the trends analysis, a significant trend was considered when the estimated model obtained a p-value <0.05. Ovarian Cancer caused 34,003 deaths in Brazilian women in this period, the mortality rate (MR) was 0.46 per 100.000 women aged less than 40; 4.2 in women aged between 40 – 59; 12.2 in women aged between 60 – 79 and 19.4 in women 80 years old or more. About Race, 65% were White, others were declared as Black, Asian, Mixed-race, or Indigenous. Only 26% had 8 years or more of schooling. Mortality rates from ovarian cancer seemed to be rising in Brazil, the major increase happened in the South, the Southeast, and the Middle-West Regions. Women aged between 40 to 59 had the most significant increase. Politics are needed to facilitate the Brazilian population's access to health services, consequently minimizing the time to diagnose and start the treatment. Research about mortality rates could help health workers identify gaps in knowledge and consequently decrease the magnitude of the disease.
Reconhecimento emocional da criança de cinco a sete anos em acolhimento institucional
Authors: Braga Gimene Cardozo , Cortes Ameriane Marquezoti , Jantara Romario Daniel , Ferreira Micheli  de Jesus , Neckes Andressa Farias de Quadros
Published: October 2020

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o reconhecimento emocional da criança de cinco a sete anos em acolhimento institucional. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa exploratória, realizada a partir do método de estudo de caso. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre outubro e novembro de 2016, em um Centro de Acolhimento Municipal de um município do sudoeste do Paraná, mediante realização de grupos operativos, em que foram utilizados, como instrumentos de coleta: histórias infantis, carinhas emotivas e desenhos. Evidenciou-se a dificuldade de reconhecimento emocional da criança de cinco a sete anos em acolhimento institucional, sendo que, as mesmas, descrevem as emoções de forma superficial, evidenciando suas dificuldades na associação das emoções com acontecimentos reais de suas vidas, indicando dificuldade de reconhecimento das emoções como próprias. No entanto, ressalta-se que, prevaleceu interesse e identificação das crianças participantes do estudo, com histórias que abordavam emoções negativas (tristeza, raiva e medo). Esse achado foi reforçado durante a elaboração dos desenhos, as crianças reforçaram maior afinidade com as emoções negativas, uma vez que, projetaram majoritariamente, em seus desenhos, figuras que expressavam sentimentos negativos. Este trabalho busca contribuir para os serviços de acolhimento infantil e demais profissionais para a necessidade de criação de momentos de expressão e reconhecimento emocional a fim de proporcionar maior acolhimento aos sofrimentos infantis e possibilidades de re-significações dessas como espaços de promoção de saúde mental infantil.
Carga global de doenças: utilização no planejamento em saúde do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Quevedo André Luis Alves de , Carvalho Ana Paula de , Cesaro Bruna Campos De , Guaranha Camila , Santos Carla Cristina Santos dos , Guimarães Cristian Fabiano , Achutti Cristiane Fischer , Mergel Fernanda Duarte , Farias Guilherme Silva de , Cascardi Gustavo , Coutinho Karen Chisini , Gonçalves Marilia Canterle , Schenkel Marina do Amaral , Barroso Priscila Farfan , Varela Renata , Ribeiro Richer Rodrigues
Published: October 2020

O objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar a experiência e os resultados da utilização da abordagem de Carga Global de Doenças (CGD) no Planejamento em Saúde do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), especialmente na construção do Plano Estadual de Saúde do período 2020-2023. Metodologia: a CGD utiliza na sua metodologia base de dados secundários e estudos populacionais para o cálculo de perda de saúde decorrente de doenças, lesões e fatores de risco por idade, sexo, ano e local. Para a análise descritiva quantitativa dos dados do RS foram utilizadas as informações do site do Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, da Universidade de Washington. Resultados: analisando a Carga Global de Doenças do Estado do RS por Anos de Vida Ajustados por Incapacidade (DALYs), para o período de 1990 e 2017, percebeu-se um aumento das condições crônicas. Apesar das contribuições da abordagem, foram identificados alguns desafios, tais como o difícil entendimento de não especialistas no tema e a necessidade da disponibilização dessas informações por Região de Saúde para os estados brasileiros. Conclusões: aponta-se a potência do uso da Carga Global de Doenças para identificar possíveis caminhos para o planejamento e para a tomada de decisão em saúde, bem como o desafio para a gestão do SUS em traduzir, nas metas prioritárias dos instrumentos de planejamento e gestão, as demandas de saúde identificadas a partir da GCD.
Percepção dos professores da rede estadual do Município de São João da Barra - RJ sobre o uso do Google Classroom no ensino remoto emergencial
Authors: Silva Flávia Cristina dos Santos , Peixoto Gilmara Teixeira Barcelos
Published: October 2020

O Ensino Remoto Emergencial (ERE) tem o objetivo principal de possibilitar acesso temporário ao processo de ensino e aprendizagem com o suporte de Tecnologias Digitais (TD) de forma confiável, durante uma emergência ou crise. Neste sentido, foi realizada uma pesquisa com professores da rede pública estadual do município de São João da Barra, interior do Rio de Janeiro para investigar a percepção dos professores sobre o uso da plataforma Google Classroom no período do ERE. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida segundo uma abordagem qualitativa e foi do tipo exploratória. Este artigo visa apresentar a análise dos dados coletados por meio de um questionário on-line. Os resultados sinalizaram que a plataforma Google Classroom foi bem aceita na visão dos professores participantes da pesquisa.  Observaram-se alguns pontos positivos e negativos por parte dos professores. Os aspectos positivos listados foram à possibilidade de o aluno manter o vínculo com a escola, a interação entre professor e aluno por meio das TD e uma excelente junção entre educação e a tecnologia, uma ponte que busca facilitar à compreensão e consequente a aprendizagem do aluno. Os pontos negativos foram os alunos que não têm acesso à plataforma resultando numa exclusão social por não possuírem computadores, a falta de internet por muitos alunos, a falta de maturidade e comprometimento nesse tipo de ensino e de ainda não se sentirem a vontade para gravar vídeo.
When Emergency Becomes Everyday Life: Revisiting a Central EiE Concept in the Context of the War on Drugs
Authors: Shirazi Roozbeh
Published: October 2020

Though "emergency" is a key concept in the field of education in emergencies, scholars and practitioners have long been ambivalent about this term and what conditions it can refer to. In this article, drawing from the work of anthropologist Janet Roitman, I critically revisit the concepts of emergency and crisis, and propose that understanding emergency primarily as a moment of shock or the unexpected event obscures how seemingly normal conditions may produce their own impasses. Rather than being characterized by a consensus of meaning, crises entail narrative constructions that create new temporalities and frame certain questions and responses as possible, others as not. In this article, I juxtapose two narrative constructions of crisis in popular culture to explore how narrative constructions of the war on drugs can produce jarringly different accounts of the crises they are said to represent. I suggest that explicitly attending to the underlying politics of crisis narration—though possibly complicating emergency response—is vital to naming and resolving possible ethical blind spots and impasses in the field of education in emergencies.
Omsorg som lönearbete - och som forskningsfält
Authors: Eliasson Rosmari
Published: October 2020

Omsorg som lönearbete - och som forskningsfält
Familjen, välfärdsforskningens svarta låda
Authors: Arve-Parès Birgit
Published: October 2020

1994 har av FN utlysts till ett internationellt familjeår. Det betyder att frågor om familjen och familjepolitik står pa dagordningen i forskning och politisk debatt över hela världen. Det iär viktigt att svenska familjeforskare deltar i den debatten, både i Sverige och i internationella fora.
Impacts of Interview as Research Instrument of Data Collection in Social Sciences
Authors: Utibe Monday Titus
Published: October 2020

This paper examined the implications of using interviews as method of data collection in social sciences with reference to researcher’s experience during fieldwork. The paper is purely qualitative and documentary sources were source of data collection. The paper argued that interview as an instrument of data collection when compared to other data collection techniques like questionnaire is more powerful in eliciting narrative data that allow researchers to investigate people's views in greater depth. The paper indicated that interview as a tool for social science data collection research helps to facilitate in obtaining direct explanation for human actions through a comprehensive speech interaction. The paper concluded that although interviewing is a powerful way of getting insights into interviewee's perceptions, it could go hand in hand with other methods providing in-depth information about participants' inner values and beliefs. For instance, using personal observation as a supplement to interviews would allow researchers investigate participants' external behaviors and internal beliefs. Therefore, the paper stressed that using more than one data collection instrument (although it depends on the research questions) would help obtaining richer data and validating the research findings.
The Lyrical Art of Ana Cristina Cesar
Authors: Cruz Antonio Donizeti , Capitani Dhandara
Published: October 2020

Ana Cristina Cesar is one of the great poets of the 1970s and 80s in Brazil. In this paper, some of her poems are analyzed in the perspective of how her lyrical narrative presents an interactive dialogue with the reader and criticizes modernity. Ana Cristina Cesar's poetic work privileges critical-reflexive language, the theme of identity, alterity, lyrical memory, poetic synthesis, and questioning, as marks of modernity. The word-memory is the essential factor that moves the aspirations and feelings of poetic self, because at the moment of reminiscing, the self recollects, in depth, the events and experiences previously experienced. The word is a force that drives the Word Artist to realize dreams, goals, and achievements. Through the poetic word, the poem develops the continuous transmutation of language, generating new possibilities of being and effecting poetic procedures through the lyrical genres, centered in the articulations of the poetic creation. The poetic craft is essentially of creating oneself, thus poetry being also self-creation, knowledge, and transmutation.
New Reliability Studies of Data-Driven Aircraft Trajectory Prediction
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Mohammad , Botez Ruxandra Mihaela , Grigorie Teodor Lucian
Published: October 2020

Two main factors, including regression accuracy and adversarial attack robustness, of six trajectory prediction models are measured in this paper using the traffic flow management system (TFMS) public dataset of fixed-wing aircraft trajectories in a specific route provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. Six data-driven regressors with their desired architectures, from basic conventional to advanced deep learning, are explored in terms of the accuracy and reliability of their predicted trajectories. The main contribution of the paper is that the existence of adversarial samples was characterized for an aircraft trajectory problem, which is recast as a regression task in this paper. In other words, although data-driven algorithms are currently the best regressors, it is shown that they can be attacked by adversarial samples. Adversarial samples are similar to training samples; however, they can cause finely trained regressors to make incorrect predictions, which poses a security concern for learning-based trajectory prediction algorithms. It is shown that although deep-learning-based algorithms (e.g., long short-term memory (LSTM)) have higher regression accuracy with respect to conventional classifiers (e.g., support vector regression (SVR)), they are more sensitive to crafted states, which can be carefully manipulated even to redirect their predicted states towards incorrect states. This fact poses a real security issue for aircraft as adversarial attacks can result in intentional and purposely designed collisions of built-in systems that can include any type of learning-based trajectory predictor.
Foliar Application of Zn Alleviates Salt Stress Symptoms of Pak Choi Plants by Activating Water Relations and Glucosinolate Synthesis
Authors: Fatemi Hamideh , Carvajal Micaela , Rios Juan José
Published: October 2020

Several studies have related the application of micronutrients such as zinc, iron and molybdenum with alleviation of stress symptoms in horticultural plants. However, there are few studies that correlate the microelements with water relations. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of the foliar application of Zn on pak choi (Brassica campestris, L.) plants grown under saline conditions. When plants were grown in a nutrient solution containing 0 or 80 mM NaCl, shoot biomass was greatly decreased, while, in a separate experiment, Zn toxicity was observed when it was applied at concentrations above 50 µM as a foliar spray. In a third experiment, low Zn applications, mainly 25 µM, enhanced parameters such as gas exchange, biomass and glucosinolates synthesis in plants grown under saline conditions (80 mM NaCl). Also, Zn application provoked a rise in membrane integrity and decreased oxidative damage in root cells. In conclusion, Zn application decreased oxidative damage and increased the content of glucosinolates, which could act as important signals to improve water uptake and transport and, as a consequence, alleviate salinity stress in pak choi plants.
Contrasting Growth, Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Responses and Water Use Efficiency in Two Medicago sativa L. Genotypes under Different Phosphorus and Soil Water Conditions
Authors: Fan Jing-Wei , Yang Xiao-Wei , Wang Tao , Li Yuan , Zhao Hong , Du Yan-Lei
Published: October 2020

Genotypic variations of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to both phosphorus (P) deficiency and water deficiency are evident on the Loess Plateau of China. Here, we compare the adaptive mechanisms between an introduced cultivar (Arkaxiya) and a landrace (Longzhong) subjected to P- and water-limited conditions. The two genotypes were grown in a soil medium with 0, 4.2, 8.4 and 16.8 μg applied P per gram dry soil. Three water treatments were imposed (maintained at 75–90%, 45–55% and 30–35% of pot capacity (PC)) 28 days after sowing (DAS). At high soil P and high soil water content (SWC), high rates of net photosynthesis (Pn) contributed to greater plant growth and P-use efficiency (PUE) in the introduced Arkaxiya compared to the landrace Longzhong. However, at low SWC, Longzhong had enhanced antioxidative defense (mainly SOD and CAT) compared to Arkaxiya. In addition, shorter shoot length and greater branching in Longzhong than Arkaxiya may also facilitate adaptation to low SWC. The contrasting adaptive mechanisms of the two genotypes provide a number of early-screening parameters associated with plant growth for the selection and introduction of alfalfa targeted at different rainfall and available P environments.
The Impact of Wheat Bran on the Morphology and Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Shang Qinghui , Wu Di , Liu Hansuo , Mahfuz Shad , Piao Xiangshu
Published: October 2020

There is increasing evidence showing that moderate amounts of insoluble dietary fiber can improve nutrient utilization by positively influencing the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of wheat bran as a source of insoluble fiber on nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant status, gastrointestinal development, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 96 one-day-old male Arbor Acre broiler chickens were assigned to two treatments with six replicate cages per treatment and eight birds per replicate for 42 d. Dietary treatments consisted of the control group (CON, control diet) and wheat bran group (WB, 30 g/kg wheat bran). Inclusion of WB increased (p < 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, gross energy and crude protein on Day 42. Birds fed WB had lower (p < 0.05) serum total cholesterol concentration on Day 21, and lower (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and total triglyceride on Day 42. Inclusion of WB increased (p < 0.05) serum glutathione peroxidase activity on Day 21 and superoxide dismutase activity on Day 42, but tended (p = 0.07) to decrease serum malondialdehyde concentration on Day 21, and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde concentration on Day 42. Birds fed WB had a greater (p < 0.05) relative weight of gizzard on both Day 21 and 42. Inclusion of WB increased (p < 0.05) activities of amylase and trypsin in pancreas and jejunal mucosa on Day 21, and increased (p < 0.05) amylase activity in pancreas and jejunal mucosa. Birds fed WB had greater (p < 0.05) villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunum and ileum on Day 42. In conclusion, supplementation of 30 g/kg WB enhanced nutrient digestibility by improving antioxidant status, gizzard development, intestinal digestive enzyme activities and morphology of broilers.
Diagnostic Value of Serum Procalcitonin in Patients with Convulsion in Emergency Department, an Observational Study
Authors: Murakami Hisashi , Naraba Hiromu , Gondo Takashi , Mochizuki Masaki , Nakano Hidehiko , Takahashi Yuji , Sonoo Tomohiro , Hashimoto Hideki , Nakamura Kensuke
Published: October 2020

Procalcitonin (PCT), a widely used biomarker for bacterial infections, is sometimes measured in convulsion patients to distinguish bacterial infections including bacterial meningitis. However, serum PCT elevation is reported in several other conditions. This study assessed the diagnostic value of serum PCT concentrations in convulsion patients. This study examined a convulsion group: patients admitted to our critical care center during April 2018 through September 2019 via the emergency department presenting with convulsions. Randomly sampled patients admitted without convulsions were categorized as a non-convulsion group. Serum PCT analysis was performed with consideration of whether or not the patient had an infection. Diagnostic values of serum PCT for bacterial infection were evaluated for convulsion and non-convulsion patients using the positive likelihood ratio of PCT. This study found 84 patients as eligible for the convulsion group; 1:2 matched 168 control patients were selected as non-convulsion group members. The positive likelihood ratio for bacterial infection was found to be significantly lower in the convulsion group than in the control group (1.94 vs. 2.65) when setting the positive cut-off for PCT as 0.5 ng/mL. Convulsion patients had a higher PCT value. The positive likelihood ratio for patients without bacterial infection was lower.
The Bactericidal Activity and Spore Inhibition Effect of Manuka Honey against Clostridioides Difficile
Authors: Yu Lillian , Palafox-Rosas Reynal , Luna Brian , She Rosemary C.
Published: October 2020

Clostridioides difficile colitis overgrowth occurs when the normal gut microbiome becomes disrupted, often due to antibiotics. Effective treatment remains elusive, due partly to the persistence of its spores in the gut. Natural substances like manuka honey offer an alternative antimicrobial mechanism of action to conventional antibiotics. We investigated the antibiotic activity of manuka honey against 20 C. difficile isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of manuka honeys of methylglyoxal (MGO) grades 30+, 100+, 250+, and 400+ were determined based on broth microdilution. Sporicidal activity was assessed in a range of honey concentrations by enumerating total viable cell and spore counts at 0–96 h after organism inoculation. The MICs of C. difficile ranged from 4% to >30% (w/v). MIC50 for the four MGO grades were similar at 10–14%. MBC results for the majority of isolates were distributed bimodally at MBC/MIC ratios ≤4 or MBC >30%. Growth kinetics in honey showed total viable cell counts remaining >105 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL at all time points, whereas spore counts remained within 1-log of baseline (102 CFU/mL) in honey but steadily increased in the drug-free control to >105 CFU/mL by 96 h. Manuka honey demonstrated variable inhibitory and bactericidal activity against C. difficile. MGO grade had no noticeable impact on overall MIC distributions or bactericidal activity. Although manuka honey could inhibit spore proliferation, it did not eradicate spores completely.
The Universal Soldier: Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Functions of Serum Albumin
Authors: Belinskaia Daria A. , Voronina Polina A. , Shmurak Vladimir I. , Vovk Mikhail A. , Batalova Anastasia A. , Jenkins Richard O. , Goncharov Nikolay V.
Published: October 2020

As a carrier of many biologically active compounds, blood is exposed to oxidants to a greater extent than the intracellular environment. Serum albumin plays a key role in antioxidant defence under both normal and oxidative stress conditions. This review evaluates data published in the literature and from our own research on the mechanisms of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities of albumin that determine its participation in redox modulation of plasma and intercellular fluid. For the first time, the results of numerous clinical, biochemical, spectroscopic and computational experiments devoted to the study of allosteric modulation of the functional properties of the protein associated with its participation in antioxidant defence are analysed. It has been concluded that it is fundamentally possible to regulate the antioxidant properties of albumin with various ligands, and the binding and/or enzymatic features of the protein by changing its redox status. The perspectives for using the antioxidant properties of albumin in practice are discussed.
Variability in Bulb Organosulfur Compounds, Sugars, Phenolics, and Pyruvate among Greek Garlic Genotypes: Association with Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Avgeri Ioanna , Zeliou Konstantina , Petropoulos Spyridon A. , Bebeli Penelope J. , Papasotiropoulos Vasileios , Lamari Fotini N.
Published: October 2020

In order to assess the diversity of Greek garlic (Allium sativum L.) landraces, 34 genotypes including commercial ones were grown in the same field and their content in organosulfur compounds, pyruvate, total sugars, and total phenolics, alongside antioxidant capacity, was determined. The organosulfur compounds were studied by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) after ultrasound-assisted extraction in ethyl acetate, identifying 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin and 3-vinyl-4H-1,2-dithiin as the predominant compounds, albeit in different ratios among genotypes. The bioactivity and the polar metabolites were determined in hydromethanolic extracts. A great variability was revealed, and nearly one-third of landraces had higher concentration of compounds determining bioactivity and organoleptic traits than the imported ones. We recorded strong correlations between pyruvate and total organosulfur compounds, and between antioxidant capacity and phenolics. In conclusion, chemical characterization revealed great genotype-dependent variation in the antioxidant properties and the chemical characters, identifying specific landraces with superior traits and nutritional and pharmaceutical value.
Intelligent Detection of IoT Botnets Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning
Authors: Kim Jiyeon , Shim Minsun , Hong Seungah , Shin Yulim , Choi Eunjung
Published: October 2020

As the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected to the network rapidly increases, network attacks such as flooding and Denial of Service (DoS) are also increasing. These attacks cause network disruption and denial of service to IoT devices. However, a large number of heterogenous devices deployed in the IoT environment make it difficult to detect IoT attacks using traditional rule-based security solutions. It is challenging to develop optimal security models for each type of the device. Machine learning (ML) is an alternative technique that allows one to develop optimal security models based on empirical data from each device. We employ the ML technique for IoT attack detection. We focus on botnet attacks targeting various IoT devices and develop ML-based models for each type of device. We use the N-BaIoT dataset generated by injecting botnet attacks (Bashlite and Mirai) into various types of IoT devices, including a Doorbell, Baby Monitor, Security Camera, and Webcam. We develop a botnet detection model for each device using numerous ML models, including deep learning (DL) models. We then analyze the effective models with a high detection F1-score by carrying out multiclass classification, as well as binary classification, for each model.
High Performance Zinc Oxide Nanorod-Doped Ion Imprinted Polypyrrole for the Selective Electrosensing of Mercury II Ions
Authors: Ait-Touchente Zouhair , Sakhraoui Houssem Eddine El Yamine , Fourati Najla , Zerrouki Chouki , Maouche Naima , Yaakoubi Nourdin , Touzani Rachid , Chehimi Mohamed M.
Published: October 2020

A biomimetic, ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) was prepared by electropolymerization of pyrrole at the surface of gold electrodes decorated with vertically grown ZnO nanorods. The vertical growth of the nanorods was achieved via an ultrathin aryl monolayer grafted by reduction of diazonium salt precursor. Pyrrole was polymerized in the presence of L-cysteine as chelating agent and Hg2+ (template). Hg2+-imprinted polypyrrole (PPy) was also prepared on a bare gold electrode in order to compare the two methods of sensor design (Au-ZnO-IIP vs. Au-IIP). Non-imprinted PPy was prepared in the same conditions but in the absence of any Hg2+ template. The strategy combining diazonium salt modification and ZnO nanorod decoration of gold electrodes permitted us to increase considerably the specific surface area and thus improve the sensor performance. The limit of detection (LOD) of the designed sensor was ~1 pM, the lowest value ever reported in the literature for gold electrode sensors. The dissociation constants between PPy and Hg2+ were estimated at [Kd1 = (7.89 ± 3.63) mM and Kd2 = (38.10 ± 9.22) pM]. The sensitivity of the designed sensor was found to be 0.692 ± 0.034 μA.pM-1. The Au-ZnO-IIP was found to be highly selective towards Hg2+ compared to cadmium, lead and copper ions. This sensor design strategy could open up new horizons in monitoring toxic heavy metal ions in water and therefore contribute to enhancing environmental quality.
Data Analysis as a Tool for the Application of Adaptive Learning in a University Environment
Authors: Villegas-Ch William , Roman-Cañizares Milton , Jaramillo-Alcázar Angel , Palacios-Pacheco Xavier
Published: October 2020

Currently, data are a very valuable resource for organizations. Through analysis, it is possible to profile people or obtain knowledge about an event or environment and make decisions that help improve their quality of life. This concept takes on greater value in the current pandemic, due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), that affects society. This emergency has changed the way people live. As a result, the majority of activities are carried out using the internet, virtually or online. Education is not far behind and has seen the web as the most successful option to continue with its activities. The use of any computer application generates a large volume of data that can be analyzed by a big data architecture in order to obtain knowledge from its students and use it to improve educational processes. The big data, when included as a tool for adaptive learning, allow the analysis of a large volume of data to offer an educational model based on personalized education. In this work, the analysis of educational data through a big data architecture is proposed to generate learning based on meeting the needs of students.
Novel Gradation Design of Porous Asphalt Concrete with Balanced Functional and Structural Performances
Authors: Ma Xiang , Wang Hao , Zhou Peisheng
Published: October 2020

To improve the permeability of porous asphalt concrete (PAC) with a small nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) of 10 mm (PAC10), a novel gradation design by excluding the 0.075–3 mm aggregate was developed. This study aims to evaluate the functional and structural performances of the novel PAC10 with various mineral filler contents, using the conventional PAC10 and 13 mm NMAS PAC (PAC13) as reference, and develop the optimum gradation of the novel PAC10. The performance properties evaluated include moisture susceptibility, durability, high-temperature stability, low-temperature cracking resistance and permeability. The results indicated that for the two conventional PACs with the same fine aggregate and mineral filler content, PAC10 had worse permeability and rutting resistance, similar moisture susceptibility and durability, and better low-temperature cracking resistance, compared with the PAC13. The novel PAC10 showed better permeability than the conventional PAC10. With the increase of the mineral filler content, the structural performance of the novel PAC10 is improved, but its permeability is decreased. With a mineral filler content of 6%, the novel PAC10 can have balanced functional and structural performances, which are equivalent to those of the conventional PAC13.
Changes in Climate Extremes in Central Asia under 1.5 and 2 °C Global Warming and their Impacts on Agricultural Productions
Authors: Liu Yang , Geng Xiu , Hao Zhixin , Zheng Jingyun
Published: October 2020

Changes in climate extremes under 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming may impact agricultural production across Central Asia. We used the simulated daily data of average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and precipitation provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project and analyzed the current climate status and future projected changes of a set of climate extreme indices related to agricultural production under 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming. In addition, the possible impacts of climate change on agricultural production in Central Asia were discussed. The results show that the annual mean temperature in Central Asia will increase by 1.48 °C and 2.34 °C at 1.5 °C and 2 °C warming levels, respectively, compared to the base period (1986–2005), and the increasing trends are significant at the α = 0.01 level for all grids. The number of warm days and growing season length will increase. Under the 1.5 °C scenario, the mean annual total precipitation (PRCPTOT) and heavy precipitation (R95P) will experience increases of 7.68% and 26.55%, respectively, and the consecutive dry days (CDD) will be reduced by 1.1 days. However, the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) shows significant drought conditions in most of Central Asia (more than 60%). Under the 2 °C scenario, there will be a 3.89% increase in PRCPTOT and a 24.78% increase in R95P. Nevertheless, accompanying the increase in CDD (0.8 day) and the decrease in SPEI, drought conditions will be further exacerbated. These results indicate that Central Asia is likely to face more severe ecological problems in the future, which will threaten the regional agricultural production and the food security. Therefore, adaptation strategies should be implemented immediately to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on Central Asia’s agriculture.
Snow Surface Albedo Sensitivity to Black Carbon: Radiative Transfer Modelling
Authors: Beres Nicholas D. , Lapuerta Magín , Cereceda-Balic Francisco , Moosmüller Hans
Published: October 2020

The broadband surface albedo of snow can greatly be reduced by the deposition of light-absorbing impurities, such as black carbon on or near its surface. Such a reduction increases the absorption of solar radiation and may initiate or accelerate snowmelt and snow albedo feedback. Coincident measurements of both black carbon concentration and broadband snow albedo may be difficult to obtain in field studies; however, using the relationship developed in this simple model sensitivity study, black carbon mass densities deposited can be estimated from changes in measured broadband snow albedo, and vice versa. Here, the relationship between the areal mass density of black carbon found near the snow surface to the amount of albedo reduction was investigated using the popular snow radiative transfer model Snow, Ice, and Aerosol Radiation (SNICAR). We found this relationship to be linear for realistic amounts of black carbon mass concentrations, such as those found in snow at remote locations. We applied this relationship to measurements of broadband albedo in the Chilean Andes to estimate how vehicular emissions contributed to black carbon (BC) deposition that was previously unquantified.
An Intelligent Automatic Human Detection and Tracking System Based on Weighted Resampling Particle Filtering
Authors: Chang Liang Cheng , Pare Shreya , Meena Mahendra Singh , Jain Deepak , Li Dong Lin , Saxena Amit , Prasad Mukesh , Lin Chin Teng
Published: October 2020

At present, traditional visual-based surveillance systems are becoming impractical, inefficient, and time-consuming. Automation-based surveillance systems appeared to overcome these limitations. However, the automatic systems have some challenges such as occlusion and retaining images smoothly and continuously. This research proposes a weighted resampling particle filter approach for human tracking to handle these challenges. The primary functions of the proposed system are human detection, human monitoring, and camera control. We used the codebook matching algorithm to define the human region as a target and track it, and we used the practical filter algorithm to follow and extract the target information. Consequently, the obtained information was used to configure the camera control. The experiments were tested in various environments to prove the stability and performance of the proposed system based on the active camera.
Hyaluronic Acid in the Intestinal Tract: Influence of Structure, Rheology, and Mucoadhesion on the Intestinal Uptake in Rats
Authors: Barbosa de Souza Alexandro , Vinícius Chaud Marco , Francine Alves Thais , Ferreira de Souza Juliana , Andrade Santana Maria
Published: October 2020

Oral hyaluronic acid (HA) is a ubiquitous biopolymer that has gained attention as a treatment for local or systemic diseases. Here, we prepared and characterized structures of free HA (f-HA) with a high (>105 Da), intermediate (≤105 Da), and low (≤104 Da) average molar mass (MM); nanoparticles crosslinked with adipic dihydrazide (n-HA); and mixed formulations (mixed-HA) containing f-HA and n-HA. MM distribution determined the structure, hydrodynamic diameter, and zeta potential of the f-HAs. Crosslinking changed the physicochemical properties in n-HA. In vitro tack adhesion assays, using mucin tablets or a viable rat intestinal mucosa, showed better mucoadhesion with f-HA (intermediate MM) and mixed-HA (25% n-HA), especially in the jejunum segment. High MM f-HA presented negligible mucoadhesion. n-HA showed the deepest diffusion into the porous of the membranes. In vivo results showed that, except for high MM f-HA, there is an inverse relationship between rheological changes in the intestinal membrane macerates resulting from mucoadhesion and the effective intestinal permeability that led to blood clearance of the structures. We conclude that the n-HA formulations are promising for targeting other tissues, while formulations of f-HA (intermediate MM) and mixed-HA are better for treating dysbiosis.
Identification of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Synthesis Pathways in the Toxic Dinophyte Alexandrium minutum Using 13C-Labelling
Authors: Remize Marine , Planchon Frédéric , Loh Ai Ning , Le Grand Fabienne , Lambert Christophe , Bideau Antoine , Bidault Adeline , Corvaisier Rudolph , Volety Aswani , Soudant Philippe
Published: October 2020

The synthetic pathways responsible for the production of the polyunsaturated fatty acids 22:6n-3 and 20:5n-3 were studied in the Dinophyte Alexandrium minutum. The purpose of this work was to follow the progressive incorporation of an isotopic label (13CO2) into 11 fatty acids to better understand the fatty acid synthesis pathways in A. minutum. The Dinophyte growth was monitored for 54 h using high-frequency sampling. A. minutum presented a growth in two phases. A lag phase was observed during the first 30 h of development and had been associated with the probable temporary encystment of Dinophyte cells. An exponential growth phase was then observed after t30. A. minutum rapidly incorporated 13C into 22:6n-3, which ended up being the most 13C-enriched polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in this experiment, with a higher 13C atomic enrichment than 18:4n-3, 18:5n-3, 20:5n-3, and 22:5n-3. Overall, the 13C atomic enrichment (AE) was inversely proportional to number of carbons in n-3 PUFA. C18 PUFAs, 18:4n-3, and 18:5n-3, were indeed among the least 13C-enriched FAs during this experiment. They were assumed to be produced by the n-3 PUFA pathway. However, they could not be further elongated or desaturated to produce n-3 C20-C22 PUFA, because the AEs of the n-3 C18 PUFAs were lower than those of the n-3 C20-C22 PUFAs. Thus, the especially high atomic enrichment of 22:6n-3 (55.8% and 54.9% in neutral lipids (NLs) and polar lipids (PLs), respectively) led us to hypothesize that this major PUFA was synthesized by an O2-independent Polyketide Synthase (PKS) pathway. Another parallel PKS, independent of the one leading to 22:6n-3, was also supposed to produce 20:5n-3. The inverse order of the 13C atomic enrichment for n-3 PUFAs was also suspected to be related to the possible β-oxidation of long-chain n-3 PUFAs occurring during A. minutum encystment.
Secretome Analysis of the Banana Fusarium Wilt Fungi Foc R1 and Foc TR4 Reveals a New Effector OASTL Required for Full Pathogenicity of Foc TR4 in Banana
Authors: Wang Dan , Peng Cunzhi , Zheng Xingmei , Chang Lili , Xu Bingqiang , Tong Zheng
Published: October 2020

Banana Fusarium wilt (BFW), which is one of the most important banana diseases worldwide, is mainly caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropic race 4 (Foc TR4). In this study, we conducted secretome analysis of Foc R1 and Foc TR4 and discovered a total of 120 and 109 secretory proteins (SPs) from Foc R1 cultured alone or with banana roots, respectively, and 129 and 105 SPs respectively from Foc TR4 cultured under the same conditions. Foc R1 and Foc TR4 shared numerous SPs associated with hydrolase activity, oxidoreductase activity, and transferase activity. Furthermore, in culture with banana roots, Foc R1 and Foc TR4 secreted many novel SPs, of which approximately 90% (Foc R1; 57/66; Foc TR4; 50/55) were unconventional SPs without signal peptides. Comparative analysis of SPs in Foc R1 and Foc TR4 revealed that Foc TR4 not only generated more specific SPs but also had a higher proportion of SPs involved in various metabolic pathways, such as phenylalanine metabolism and cysteine and methionine metabolism. The cysteine biosynthesis enzyme O-acetylhomoserine (thiol)-lyase (OASTL) was the most abundant root inducible Foc TR4-specific SP. In addition, knockout of the OASTL gene did not affect growth of Foc TR4; but resulted in the loss of pathogenicity in banana ‘Brazil’. We speculated that OASTL functions in banana by interfering with the biosynthesis of cysteine, which is the precursor of an enormous number of sulfur-containing defense compounds. Overall, our studies provide a basic understanding of the SPs in Foc R1 and Foc TR4; including a novel effector in Foc TR4.