bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Erilaistuva ja yhtenäistyvä korkeakoulutus muutosvoimana
Authors: Tirronen Jarkko
Published: September 2020

Suomalaisen korkeakoulujärjestelmän yli neljä vuosikymmentä kestänyt laajentamisen kehityskausi alkoi Oulun yliopiston perustamisesta vuonna 1958 ja huipentui 1990-luvun ammattikorkeakoulureformiin. Nykyinen korkeakoulujärjestelmä on varsin laaja ja epäyhtenäinen. Paradoksaalista kyllä järjestelmä ei ole kuitenkaan riittävän erilaistunut. Laajentamisen korkeakoulupolitiikka on suuntautumassa kohti korkeakoululähtöistä ja tehokkuuspainotteista yhdentämisen korkeakoulupolitiikkaa. Korkeakoululaitos näyttää jäsentyvän kolmiportaiseksi ammattikorkeakouluista, yliopistoista sekä näiden välisistä yhteenliittymistä muodostuvaksi järjestelmäksi.
Näkökulmia mediakuvien arkeen
Authors: Rantala Varpu
Published: September 2020

Visuaalinen kulttuuri : teoriaa ja metodeja mediakuvan tulkitsijalle, Janne Seppänen, Tampere (2005)
Heterotehtaan mutkittelevat tuotantolinjat
Authors: Harakkamäki Sanna
Published: September 2020

Heterotehdas : televisiomainonta sukupuolituotantona, Leena-Maija Rossi, Helsinki (2003)
Elinikäisen oppimisen Panopticon
Authors: Saari Antti
Published: September 2020

Kirjoittaja tuo elinikäisestä oppimisesta käytyyn kriittiseen keskusteluun sitä täydentävän, valtateoreettisen näkökulman, joka nojaa Michel Foucaultin ja foucault’laisten kasvatustieteilijöiden tuotantoon. Tätä foucault’laisen elinikäisen oppimisen analyysiä hän luonnehtii Kenneth Wainia lainaten epäilyn politiikaksi. Se etsii vallankäyttöä juuri sieltä, missä sen olemassaolo vahvimmin kielletään. Elämme modernissa Panopticon-yhteiskunnassa, jonka tarkoituksena on tuottaa ja lisätä yksilön hyödyllisiä voimia ja joka hyvää elämää määritellessään ulottuu myös yksityisen elämän alueelle.
Kant on the Relations between Church and State: An Introduction to the Special Edition
Authors: Tomaszewska Anna
Published: September 2020

This introduction is divided into two parts. First, drawing on Paul Guyer’s suggestion that we should turn to Kant to reinvestigate the foundations of religious liberty, I outline Kant’s views on the relations between the ethical (‘church’) and the political (‘state’) community, as presented in Part Three of the Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, focusing in particular on his arguments for separation between religion and the state. Examining critically the idea to employ Kant in contemporary debates, I claim that Kant’s account of pure moral faith and the church as its ‘vehicle’ may pose difficulties for any argument for religious liberty that appeals to his thought. For Kant is better equipped to offer resources to overcome rather than to accommodate the fact of so-called “moral pluralism,” i.e. the condition in which the principle of religious liberty can find its application. In the second part, I summarise the arguments of the authors who contribute to this volume: D. Jakušić, W. Kozyra, S. Lo Re, G.E. Michalson Jr., and S.R. Palmquist.
PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN PAKAN TERNAK ALTERNATIF DAN MANAJEMEN USAHA TERNAK KAMBING
Authors: Rusdi Rusdi , Basri Wahidul
Published: September 2020

The main thing in the process of raising goats so that they can get benefits quickly is regular feeding. Based on the pleasant experience of the goat breeders complaining about the difficulty of getting natural food during the dry season. Or if there is a compilation of rainy season food available, then the breeder will eat it in feeding the goats every day. To do this, there is now a modern and easy way to raise goats that is quite easy and profitable is that cattle use fermented feed so they do not look for food every day. This method is not yet known by many goat farmers in both villages and cities in the country including in partner villa villages namely Jorong Padang Ambacang Nagari Batu Balang will be able to bring benefits that are more optimal and easier in raising goats. Community service aims to provide konowledge and skill to partners or goat farmers in animal husbandry management and application of science and technology to produce animal feed by fermentation. Methods of Implementation of activities carried out by applying appropriate technology and improving business management. The appropriate tecnology application implementation scheme is a training program to make  alternative/ artificial fermentation. While management improvement training is realized in the  form of counseling and training. The results of this service have been able to increase community knowledge about goat breeders in the terms of livestock business management and animal feed manufacturing through fermentation.
NILAI-NILAI KETELADANAN GURU DALAM INTERAKSI PEMBENTUKAN KARAKTER ANAK (PAUD)
Authors: Salamah Umi , Rokhyanto Rokhyanto
Published: September 2020

Departing from the various realities as described above, the implementer of this service wishes to examine the importance of the exemplary educators in shaping the character of children. This dedication will begin with the basic concept of modeling, then end with the importance of modeling for the teacher in shaping the personalities (characters) of children towards independence. The role of parents is very important, especially to catch the concrete rather than the abstract. As a second parent, the teacher might find it easy to communicate his message verbally. However, children will find it difficult to understand the message if they see that their education does not provide an example of the message it conveys. Advances in technology also have an impact on children's behavior along with the progress of science and technology. This gives a very big impact on the behavior of students who increasingly leads to negative things. Children's behavior patterns tend to deviate from the corridors of noble morals. Based on the range of exemplary values ​​in the interaction of character building namely: efforts to ask for parental support, not getting bored giving directions, cooperation of all parties. The factors supporting the exemplary methods in PAUD, teachers, teaching materials, the local environment and schools, technological progress.
Endurance and Resistance Respiratory Muscle Training and Aerobic Exercise Performance in Hypobaric Hypoxia
Authors: Wheelock Courtney E. , Hess Hayden W. , Johnson Blair D. , Schlader Zachary J. , Clemency Brian M. , St. James Erika , Hostler David
Published: September 2020

INTRODUCTION: Hypoxia-induced hyperventilation is an effect of acute altitude exposure, which may lead to respiratory muscle fatigue and secondary locomotor muscle fatigue. The purpose of this study was to determine if resistive and/or endurance respiratory muscle training (RRMT
and ERMT, respectively) vs. placebo respiratory muscle training (PRMT) improve cycling performance at altitude.METHODS: There were 24 subjects who were assigned to PRMT (N 8), RRMT (N 8), or ERMT (N 8). Subjects cycled to exhaustion in a hypobaric chamber decompressed
to 3657 m (12,000 ft) at an intensity of 55% sea level maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2max) before and after respiratory muscle training (RMT). Additionally, subjects completed a Vo2max, pulmonary function, and respiratory endurance test (RET) before and after RMT. All
RMT protocols consisted of three 30-min training sessions per week for 4 wk.RESULTS: The RRMT group increased maximum inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) mouth pressure after RMT (PImax: 117.7 11.6 vs. 162.6 20.0; PEmax: 164.0 33.2
vs. 216.5 44.1 cmH2O). The ERMT group increased RET after RMT (5.2 5.2 vs.18.6 16.9 min). RMT did not improve Vo2max in any group. Both RRMT and ERMT groups increased cycling time to exhaustion (RRMT: 35.9 17.2 vs. 45.6 22.2 min and ERMT: 33.8 9.6 vs. 42.9 27.0 min).CONCLUSION:
Despite different improvements in pulmonary function, 4 wk of RRMT and ERMT both improved cycle time to exhaustion at altitude.Wheelock CE, Hess HW, Johnson BD, Schlader ZJ, Clemency BM, St. James E, Hostler D. Endurance and resistance respiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise
performance in hypobaric hypoxia. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):776784.
Psychophysiological Responses of Pilots in Hypoxia Training at 7000 and 7500 m
Authors: Wen Dongqing , Tu Lei , Wang Guiyou , Gu Zhao , Shi Weiru , Liu Xiaopeng
Published: September 2020

INTRODUCTION: We compared the physiological responses, psychomotor performances, and hypoxia symptoms between 7000 m and 7500 m (23,000 and 24,600 ft) exposure to develop a safer hypoxia training protocol.METHODS: In altitude chamber, 66 male pilots were exposed to
7000 and 7500 m. Heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation were continuously monitored. Psychomotor performance was assessed using the computational task. The hypoxic symptoms were investigated by a questionnaire.RESULTS: The mean duration time of hypoxia was 323.0 56.5 s at 7000
m and 218.2 63.3 s at 7500 m. The 6-min hypoxia training was completed by 57.6% of the pilots and 6.1% of the pilots at 7000 m and at 7500 m, respectively. There were no significant differences in pilots heart rates and psychomotor performance between the two exposures. The Spo2
response at 7500 m was slightly severer than that at 7000 m. During the 7000 m exposure, pilots experienced almost the same symptoms and similar frequency order as those during the 7500 m exposure.CONCLUSIONS: There were concordant symptoms, psychomotor performance, and very similar
physiological responses between 7000 m and 7500 m during hypoxia training. The results indicated that 7000-m hypoxia awareness training might be an alternative to 7500-m hypoxia training with lower DCS risk and longer experience time.Wen D, Tu L, Wang G, Gu Z, Shi W, Liu X. Psychophysiological
responses of pilots in hypoxia training at 7000 and 7500 m. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):785789.
A Proposed Aeromedical Disposition Flowchart for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Qiang Seah Benjamin Zhi , Chua Choon Guan
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem involvement. Clinical management of this condition has unique aeromedical considerations and an impact on subsequent aeromedical disposition. A comprehensive decision matrix
would greatly benefit aviation medicine practitioners in the management of aircrew and personnel in flying-related vocations who are diagnosed with SLE.CASE REPORT: We describe the aeromedical management of a military air traffic controller who was diagnosed with SLE after presenting
with cutaneous lupus, nonscarring alopecia, symmetrical small joint polyarthropathy, leukopenia, and presence of SLE-specific antibody. She was treated with hydroxychloroquine and low-dose systemic glucocorticoids, and allowed to return to duties with a proximity restriction and a bar on field
deployments and night duties.DISCUSSION: Several SLE manifestations may have either incapacitating or distracting effects on aircrew and personnel in flying-related vocations. Some medications used in the treatment of SLE may similarly impact on an individuals ability to safely
execute flight or air traffic control duties. We propose an aeromedical disposition decision flowchart that would guide aviation medicine practitioners in the management of individuals diagnosed with SLE to ensure optimal and safe performance in their respective occupational settings.Seah
BZQ, Chua CG. A proposed aeromedical disposition flowchart for systemic lupus erythematosus. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):826832.
History and Japanese South Korea Trade Wars
Authors: Nugroho Fahrizal , Bahri M Mossadeq
Published: September 2020

The trade war between Japan and South Korea is now entering a new phase. South Korea is currently counteracting by boycotting goods originating from Japan, such as FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) companies, fast retaling and automotive. Japan itself has now downgraded the status of South Korea which was originally included in group A or White List Countries or Preferred Trade Partner List Countries into group B, namely countries and regions participating in international export control regimes and satisfying certain conditions (Excluding those in group A) . As we know, this trade war was preceded by restrictions on exports by Japan to South Korea. In July, Japan imposed tighter controls on the export of three raw materials in chips and smart phone screens to South Korea. The materials are photoresists used in the semiconductor industry, hydrogen fluoride as a material for making chips and fluorinated polymides that are used as materials for making smartphone screens. These goods are very important for the industry in South Korea, especially in the smartphone industry, thus making South Korea furious about the Japanese action. The issue that will be raised is how history can shape decision-making in relations between Japan and South Korea, leading to a trade war like today. Relations between Japan and South Korea are very close to what happened in the past. Even today, South Korea still voiced its past suffering caused by Japan and raised tension between the two countries. South Korea plans to file complaints over tightening Japanese export controls to the World Trade Organization (WTO). South Korea accuses Tokyo of having "political motivation" and "discrimination" in the two countries' growing conflict and rooted in wartime history.
Prinsip Buddha Zen dalam Upacara Chanoyu Aliran Urasenke
Authors: Magdalena Widya
Published: September 2020

Â This research discusses about the application of the Zen Buddhism principles in urasenke style tea ceremony. The purpose of this research is to explain the application of the Zen principles (wa, kei, sei, jaku) in urasenke style tea ceremony. This research used descriptive qualitative method to analyze the data. This study uses the principles given by Sen no Rikyu. These principles are wa (harmony), kei (respect), sei (purity), and jaku (tranquility). The results of this study show that the four principles are applied through the actions taken by the host and guest in the urasenke style tea ceremony.Â KeywordsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  : chanoyu, urasenke, buddhism, zen, Japan
Tindak Tutur Penolakan Bahasa Jepang oleh Mantan Kenshuusei (Pekerja Magang di Jepang)
Authors: Novitasari Dewi , Aryanto Bayu
Published: September 2020

This study is intended to describe the speech act strategy of rejection in Japanese language by former apprentices (kenshuusei). The descriptive qualitative method used in this research is under the approach of interlanguage pragmatic study because the participants are foreign speakers of Japanese. The data were collected using the oral-discourse completion test technique. The findings of this study have shown three types of refusal processes, namely 1) pre-refusal - main refusal - post refusal; 2) pre-refusal - the main refusal; and 3) major refusal - post refusal. In the refusal utterances, there are 2 forms of refusal, namely direct refusal and indirect refusal. The strategies used in refusing are apology strategy, refusal reason strategy, alternative statement strategy, hope statement strategy, future demand strategy, negation form, fukushi, and aizuchi. The refusal strategies mostly used by former apprentices are the excuse strategy for refusal and almost all refusal speeches also use apologies.
Studi Metafora Konseptual pada Idiom Bahasa Jepang yang mengandung Bagian Tubuh dan Bermakna Emosi
Authors: Ghassani Nadhira Shafa , Saifudin Akhmad
Published: September 2020

Kanyouku is used to express human emotions. This study discusses the mapping of the meaning of Japanese idiom related to emotions in human cognition by using Knowles and Moon’s metaphor theory and conceptual metaphor theory by Lakoff and Johnson. The study utilizes 28 idioms that related to human basic emotions such as anger, happiness, sadness, fear, love, shame, pride, and surprise. These basic emotions are obtained from Goo Jiten online Japanese dictionary. The results show that human cognition viewing emotion concept as an entity and representing emotions into human body. In Japanese people’s cognition, anger represented as belly, chest, and head; fear represented as tongue, heart, and foot; happiness represented as cheek, chest, and heart; sadness represented as shoulder, chest, and heart; love represented as eye and heart; pride represented as chest; shame represented as face and cheek; and surprise represented as eye, tongue, and heart. Human cognition represented emotion concept as human body to measure the level of emotion. This study mapped the emotion concepts as a concrete entity: the entity as fluid in a container or entity as parts of body. Keywords: Cognitive Linguistic, Conceptual Metaphor, Image Scheme, Idiom, Emotion
Generational Change in Affective Polarization and Partisanship: An Age-Period-Cohort Accounting
Authors: Stoker Laura
Published: September 2020

Analyzes ANES data from 1964-2016 to show the role of generational replacement in fueling trends in affective polarization, identification as an independent, and the decline of Democratic dominance in the distribution of party identifiers both inside and outside of the South.
The Spatial Signature of Introgression After a Biological Invasion With Hybridization
Authors: Quilodrán Claudio S. , Tsoupas Alexandros , Currat Mathias
Published: September 2020

The accumulation of genome-wide molecular data has emphasized the important role of hybridization in the evolution of many organisms, which may carry introgressed genomic segments resulting from past admixture events with other taxa. Despite a number of examples of hybridization occurring during biological invasions, the resulting spatial patterns of genomic introgression remain poorly understood. Preliminary simulation studies have suggested a heterogeneous spatial level of introgression for invasive taxa after range expansion. We investigated in detail the robustness of this pattern and its persistence over time for both invasive and local organisms. Using spatially explicit simulations, we explored the spatial distribution of introgression across the area of colonization of an invasive taxon hybridizing with a local taxon. The general pattern for neutral loci supported by our results is an increasing introgression of local genes into the invasive taxon with the increase in the distance from the source of the invasion and a decreasing introgression of invasive genes into the local taxon. However, we also show there is some variation in this general trend depending on the scenario investigated. Spatial heterogeneity of introgression within a given taxon is thus an expected neutral pattern in structured populations after a biological invasion with a low to moderate amount of hybridization. We further show that this pattern is consistent with published empirical observations. Using additional simulations, we argue that the spatial pattern of Neanderthal introgression in modern humans, which has been documented to be higher in Asia than in Europe, can be explained by a model of hybridization with Neanderthals in Eurasia during the range expansion of modern humans from Africa. Our results support the view that weak hybridization during range expansion may explain spatially heterogeneous introgression patterns without the need to invoke selection.
JNK3 as Therapeutic Target and Biomarker in Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Brain Diseases
Authors: Musi Clara Alice , Agrò Graziella , Santarella Francesco , Iervasi Erika , Borsello Tiziana
Published: September 2020

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) is the JNK isoform mainly expressed in the brain. It is the most responsive to many stress stimuli in the central nervous system from ischemia to Aβ oligomers toxicity. JNK3 activity is spatial and temporal organized by its scaffold protein, in particular JIP-1 and β-arrestin-2, which play a crucial role in regulating different cellular functions in different cellular districts. Extensive evidence has highlighted the possibility of exploiting these adaptors to interfere with JNK3 signaling in order to block its action. JNK plays a key role in the first neurodegenerative event, the perturbation of physiological synapse structure and function, known as synaptic dysfunction. Importantly, this is a common mechanism in many different brain pathologies. Synaptic dysfunction and spine loss have been reported to be pharmacologically reversible, opening new therapeutic directions in brain diseases. Being JNK3-detectable at the peripheral level, it could be used as a disease biomarker with the ultimate aim of allowing an early diagnosis of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopment diseases in a still prodromal phase.
Gastric Flora in Gastrostomy Fed Children with Neurological Impairment on Antacid Medication
Authors: De Souza Bradley , Richardson Susan E. , Cohen Eyal , Mahant Sanjay , Avitzur Yaron , Carsley Sarah , Rapoport Adam
Published: September 2020

This prospective cohort study aimed to: (1) describe types, concentrations and sensitivity profiles of bacteria found in gastric aspirates of neurologically impaired children; (2) compare flora between outpatients and those admitted with aspiration pneumonia; and (3) examine predictors of bacterial colonization. Gastric aspirates from gastrostomy fed, neurologically impaired children on antacid medication were measured for pH and sent for microbiological testing. The outpatient arm included 26 children at their baseline; the inpatient arm included 31 children with a clinical diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. Descriptive statistics summarized the ecology and resistance patterns of microbial flora. Predictors of total bacterial colonization were explored with linear regression. High concentrations of potentially pathogenic fecal-type bacteria were detected in 50/57 (88%) gastric aspirates. pH was found to be the only predictor of bacterial growth; children with gastric pH ≥ 4 had significantly higher concentrations of aerobic growth, while those with no bacterial growth had a pH < 4. Further studies to evaluate optimal gastric pH, the role of gastric bacteria in causing aspiration pneumonia, and the optimal empiric therapy for aspiration pneumonia are recommended.
Assessing the Adaptive Capacity of Households to Climate Change in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Authors: Mesfin Demamu , Simane Belay , Belay Abrham , Recha John W. , Schmiedel Ute
Published: September 2020

This paper explores the different components of the adaptive capacity of households in the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia and quantifies their relative contributions. The data were derived from a survey of 413 households randomly selected from four Kebeles (the smallest government administrative units) in the CRV. The adaptive capacity of the households was assessed using the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework and measured in terms of both aggregate and composite indices, with sixty indicators distributed across five major components and subcomponents. The index score for major components shows that intangible variables such as institutions and entitlements, knowledge and information, and innovation contributed to adaptive capacity better than decision–making and governance and asset–base. The composite indices for sub–components showed that the contribution of woodlands to adaptive capacity was positive and superior to other natural assets. Grazing land was the next best contributor, while farmland and water resources made a much lower contribution. The findings of this study are useful to better understand the nature of adaptive capacity and its components at the household level. This study suggests the need for an integrated assessment and enhancement of adaptive capacity with all its components rather than focusing only on asset possession as an indicator of adaptive capacity.
Effect of Multiple Stresses, Organic Amendment and Compaction, on the Fate and Impact of Isoproturon in Soil
Authors: Mamy Laure , Mougin Christian , Benoit Pierre , Houot Sabine , Brault Agathe , Cheviron Nathalie , Delarue Ghislaine , Dumeny Valérie , Vieublé-Gonod Laure
Published: September 2020

Organic matter decline and compaction are two major processes of soil degradation. Organic amendment is a current practice to compensate the loss of organic matter, which could in addition contribute to increase soil aggregate stability and limit compaction. Therefore, the objective of this work was to study the effect of multiple physico-chemical stresses, organic amendment (compost of sewage sludge and green waste) addition and soil compaction, on the fate and impact (measured through the urease enzyme activity) of isoproturon. Compost addition and compaction did not significantly affect the fate and impact of isoproturon. The lack of effect of compost can be due to the delay between soil sampling and soil amendment. Compaction had no effect probably because the porosity reduction does not affect the habitable pore space accessible to degrading microorganisms. Nevertheless, isoproturon significantly increased the urease enzyme activity in compacted and not compacted unamended soils contrary to the amended ones. It seems that the organic amendment could act as a buffer with regards to the impact of isoproturon. The results obtained in this work suggest that, in general, the fate and impact of isoproturon in soils will not change following compaction and/or organic amendment addition, neither the corresponding risks for the environment.
Free Amino Acids and Biogenic Amines in Canned European Eels: Influence of Processing Step, Filling Medium and Storage Time
Authors: Gómez-Limia Lucía , Cutillas Roxana , Carballo Javier , Franco Inmaculada , Martínez Sidonia
Published: September 2020

This study evaluated the effects of the canning process and different filling media on the free amino acid and biogenic amine contents of eels. The main free amino acids were histidine, taurine and arginine, which constituted 72% of the free amino acids in raw eels. All steps in the canning process significantly altered the free amino acid content of eels, relative to raw samples. The changes were influenced by the step, the composition of the frying or filling medium and the storage time. The biogenic amine contents were very low in all samples. Histamine was not detected in either raw eels or canned eels. The highest values were obtained for 2-phenylethylamine. The step of the canning process, the composition of the frying or filling medium and storage time also determined the changes in the biogenic amine contents. The biogenic amines indices were low, indicating the good quality of canned eels.
Determination of Cholesterol Content in Butter by HPLC: Up-to-Date Optimization, and In-House Validation Using Reference Materials
Authors: Kolarič Lukáš , Šimko Peter
Published: September 2020

This work deals with up-to-date optimization of cholesterol content determination when saponification and extraction procedures as well as HPLC conditions were studied. As found, optimal conditions for saponification process were identified by 15 min heating in the presence of 0.015 L of methanolic KOH solution with a concentration 1 mol/L with subsequent 0.015 L n-hexane–chloroform binary mixture (1:1, v/v) double extraction. HPLC separation consisted of isocratic elution with flow rate of 0.5 mL/min mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/methanol 60:40 (v/v) and stationary phase Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column 2.1 × 100 mm, 3.5 μm particle size diameters with detector wavelength 205 nm. The method passed through in-house validation criteria and its suitability was verified by analysis of butter reference materials. In final, the average content of cholesterol content in butter was determined at 2271.0 mg/kg. Thus, the method is suitable for the determination of cholesterol content in butter and probably also in other dairy products.
Optimization of Ultrasonicated Kaempferol Extraction from Ocimum basilicum Using a Box–Behnken Design and Its Densitometric Validation
Authors: Altemimi Ammar B. , Mohammed Muthanna J. , Yi-Chen Lee , Watson Dennis G. , Lakhssassi Naoufal , Cacciola Francesco , Ibrahim Salam A.
Published: September 2020

Kaempferol (KA) is a natural flavonol that can be found in plants and plant-derived foods with a plethora of different pharmacological properties. In the current study, we developed an efficient extraction method for the isolation of KA from ultrasonicated basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum). We successfully employed a Box–Behnken design (BBD) in order to investigate the effect of different extraction variables including methanol concentration (40–80%), extraction temperature (40–60 °C), and extraction time (5–15 min). The quantification of KA yield was carried out by employing a validated densitometric high performance thin layer chromatography in connection with ultraviolet detection (HPTLC-VIS). The obtained data showed that the quadratic polynomial model (R2 = 0.98) was the most appropriate. The optimized ultrasonic extraction yielded 94.7 ng/spot of KA when using methanol (79.99%) at 60 °C for 5 min. When using toluene-ethyl acetate-formic acid (70:30:1 v/v/v) as a solvent, KA was detected in basil leaves at an Retention factor (Rf) value of 0.26 at 330 nm. Notably, the analytical method was successfully validated with a linear regression of R2 = 0.99, which reflected a good linear relationship. The developed HPTLC-VIS method in this study was precise, accurate, and robust due to the lower obtained results from both the percent relative standard deviation (%RSD) and SEM of the O. basilicum. The antioxidant activity of KA (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.68 μg/mL) was higher than that of the reference ascorbic acid (IC50 = 0.79 μg/mL) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (IC50 = 0.88 μg/mL). The development of economical and efficient techniques is very important for the extraction and quantification of important pharmaceutical compounds such as KA.
Effect of Walking on Sand with Dietary Intervention in OverweightType 2 DiabetesMellitusPatients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Seyam Mohamed , Kashoo Faizan , Alqahtani Mazen , Alzhrani Msaad , Aldhafiri Fahad , Ahmad Mehrunnisha
Published: September 2020

(1) Background: The primary goal of this study was to assess the effect of sand walking on Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, and quality of life among individuals with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). (2) Methods: A randomized-controlled design was conducted on 66 overweight participants suffering from T2DM. Participants were randomly allocated to sand walking (SW) (n = 33) and normal walking (NW) (n = 33) groups. Participants performed moderate-intensity walking for 30 min, 3 times a week for 4 months. Participants walking on sand had statistically significant mean scores for HbA1c, BMI, waist circumference and quality of life((M = 7.32, SD = 0.47),(M = 25.77, SD = 1.366),(M = 92.94, SD = 2.59), (M = 91.48, SD = 34.08)) than those walking on leveled surface ((M = 8.38, SD = 0.77),t(52.8) = −6.73, p = 0.003, (M = 26.80, SD = 1.38), t(64) = −3.05, p = 0.001,(M = 98.12, SD = 2.16.3), t(64) = −3.75, p = 0.001, (M = 112, SD = 33.7), t(64) = −2.45, p = 0.017)respectively. (3) Conclusions: Regular SW with a healthy dietary regime for 4 months led to a statistically significant difference in HbA1c, BMI, waist circumference, and quality of life as compared to NW group.
Imbalance of Lysine Acetylation Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Wang Rui , Sun Hongyang , Wang Guanghui , Ren Haigang
Published: September 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. The neuropathological features of PD are selective and progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, deficiencies in striatal dopamine levels, and the presence of intracellular Lewy bodies. Interactions among aging and genetic and environmental factors are considered to underlie the common etiology of PD, which involves multiple changes in cellular processes. Recent studies suggest that changes in lysine acetylation and deacetylation of many proteins, including histones and nonhistone proteins, might be tightly associated with PD pathogenesis. Here, we summarize the changes in lysine acetylation of both histones and nonhistone proteins, as well as the related lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) and lysine deacetylases (KDACs), in PD patients and various PD models. We discuss the potential roles and underlying mechanisms of these changes in PD and highlight that restoring the balance of lysine acetylation/deacetylation of histones and nonhistone proteins is critical for PD treatment. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different KAT/KDAC inhibitors or activators in the treatment of PD models and emphasize that SIRT1 and SIRT3 activators and SIRT2 inhibitors are the most promising effective therapeutics for PD.
MCPIP1 RNase and Its Multifaceted Role
Authors: Musson Richard , Szukała Weronika , Jura Jolanta
Published: September 2020

Inflammation is an organism’s physiological response to harmful septic and aseptic stimuli. This process begins locally through the influx of immune system cells to the damaged tissue and the subsequent activation and secretion of inflammatory mediators to restore homeostasis in the organism. Inflammation is regulated at many levels, and one of these levels is post-transcriptional regulation, which controls the half-life of transcripts that encode inflammatory mediators. One of the proteins responsible for controlling the amount of mRNA in a cell is the RNase monocyte chemoattractant protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1). The studies conducted so far have shown that MCPIP1 is involved not only in the regulation of inflammation but also in many other physiological and pathological processes. This paper provides a summary of the information on the role of MCPIP1 in adipogenesis, angiogenesis, cell differentiation, cancer, and skin inflammation obtained to date.
An Analysis of Clinical, Surgical, Pathological and Molecular Characteristics of Endometrial Cancer According to Mismatch Repair Status. A Multidisciplinary Approach
Authors: Dondi Giulia , Coluccelli Sara , De Leo Antonio , Ferrari Simona , Gruppioni Elisa , Bovicelli Alessandro , Godino Lea , Coadă Camelia Alexandra , Morganti Alessio Giuseppe , Giordano Antonio , Santini Donatella , Ceccarelli Claudio , Turchetti Daniela , De Iaco Pierandrea , Perrone Anna Myriam
Published: September 2020

Since 2016, our hospital has applied tumor testing with immunohistochemistry (IHC) in endometrial cancer in order to detect mutations of mismatch repair genes (MMR). All cases with MMR deficiency proteins expression are sent for genetic testing, except those with MLH1 protein deficiency, in which case genetic testing is performed if negative for promoter hypermethylation. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the ability of our algorithm to identify Lynch syndrome (LS). The Secondary aims were to investigate the relationship between MMR status and clinicopathological features and prognosis of primary endometrial cancer (EC). From January 2016 to December 2018, 239 patients with EC were retrospectively analyzed and subdivided according to MMR status. Patients were divided in three groups: MMR proficient, LS and Lynch-like cancer (LLC). LS was characterized by a lower age and BMI, more use of contraceptive and less use of hormonal replacement therapy, nulliparity and a trend versus a better prognosis. LLC appeared more related to MMR proficient than LS and exhibited a more aggressive behavior. Our multidisciplinary approach permitted a correct diagnosis of germline mutation in patients with newly diagnosis EC and it confirmed clinicopathologic and prognostic characteristics of LS.
Targeting the SphK-S1P-SIPR Pathway as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for COVID-19
Authors: McGowan Eileen M , Haddadi Nahal , Nassif Najah T. , Lin Yiguang
Published: September 2020

The world is currently experiencing the worst health pandemic since the Spanish flu in 1918—the COVID-19 pandemic—caused by the coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pandemic is the world’s third wake-up call this century. In 2003 and 2012, the world experienced two major coronavirus outbreaks, SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East Respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), causing major respiratory tract infections. At present, there is neither a vaccine nor a cure for COVID-19. The severe COVID-19 symptoms of hyperinflammation, catastrophic damage to the vascular endothelium, thrombotic complications, septic shock, brain damage, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and acute neurological and psychiatric complications are unprecedented. Many COVID-19 deaths result from the aftermath of hyperinflammatory complications, also referred to as the “cytokine storm syndrome”, endotheliitus and blood clotting, all with the potential to cause multiorgan dysfunction. The sphingolipid rheostat plays integral roles in viral replication, activation/modulation of the immune response, and importantly in maintaining vasculature integrity, with sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) and its cognate receptors (SIPRs: G-protein-coupled receptors) being key factors in vascular protection against endotheliitus. Hence, modulation of sphingosine kinase (SphK), S1P, and the S1P receptor pathway may provide significant beneficial effects towards counteracting the life-threatening, acute, and chronic complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review provides a comprehensive overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease, prospective vaccines, and current treatments. We then discuss the evidence supporting the targeting of SphK/S1P and S1P receptors in the repertoire of COVID-19 therapies to control viral replication and alleviate the known and emerging acute and chronic symptoms of COVID-19. Three clinical trials using FDA-approved sphingolipid-based drugs being repurposed and evaluated to help in alleviating COVID-19 symptoms are discussed.
Modifying the Cyanobacterial Metabolism as a Key to Efficient Biopolymer Production in Photosynthetic Microorganisms
Authors: Ciebiada Maciej , Kubiak Katarzyna , Daroch Maurycy
Published: September 2020

Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic bacteria commonly found in the natural environment. Due to the ecological benefits associated with the assimilation of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and utilization of light energy, they are attractive hosts in a growing number of biotechnological processes. Biopolymer production is arguably one of the most critical areas where the transition from fossil-derived chemistry to renewable chemistry is needed. Cyanobacteria can produce several polymeric compounds with high applicability such as glycogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates, or extracellular polymeric substances. These important biopolymers are synthesized using precursors derived from central carbon metabolism, including the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Due to their unique metabolic properties, i.e., light harvesting and carbon fixation, the molecular and genetic aspects of polymer biosynthesis and their relationship with central carbon metabolism are somehow different from those found in heterotrophic microorganisms. A greater understanding of the processes involved in cyanobacterial metabolism is still required to produce these molecules more efficiently. This review presents the current state of the art in the engineering of cyanobacterial metabolism for the efficient production of these biopolymers.
A Strategic Move for Long-Term Bridge Performance within a Game Theory Framework by a Data-Driven Co-Active Mechanism
Authors: Oyegbile O. Brian , Chorzepa Mi G.
Published: September 2020

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires that states have less than 10% of the total deck area that is structurally deficient. It is a minimum risk benchmark for sustaining the National Highway System bridges. Yet, a decision-making framework is needed for obtaining the highest possible long-term return from investments on bridge maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement (MRR). This study employs a data-driven coactive mechanism within a proposed game theory framework, which accounts for a strategic interaction between two players, the FHWA and a state Department of Transportation (DOT). The payoffs for the two players are quantified in terms of a change in service life. The proposed framework is used to investigate the element-level bridge inspection data from four US states (Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York). By reallocating 0.5% (from 10% to 10.5%) of the deck resources to expansion joints and joint seals, both federal and state transportation agencies (e.g., FHWA and state DOTs in the U.S.) will be able to improve the overall bridge performance. This strategic move in turn improves the deck condition by means of a co-active mechanism and yields a higher payoff for both players. It is concluded that the proposed game theory framework with a strategic move, which leverages element interactions for MRR, is most effective in New York where the average bridge service life is extended by 15 years. It is also concluded that the strategic move can lead to vastly different outcomes. Pennsylvania’s concrete bridge management strategy currently appears to leverage a co-active mechanism in its bridge MRR strategies. This is noteworthy because its bridges are exposed to similar environmental conditions to what is obtainable in Virginia and New York and are subjected to more aggressive weather conditions than those in Georgia. This study illustrates how a strategic move affects the payoffs of different players by numerically quantifying changes in service life from bridge time-dependent bridge performance relationships.
Speckle Noise Reduction in Sonar Image Based on Adaptive Redundant Dictionary
Authors: Huang Yifan , Li Weixiang , Yuan Fei
Published: September 2020

As acoustic waves are affected by the channel characteristics, such as scattering and reverberation when propagating in water, sonar images often exhibit speckle noise which will cause visual quality of the image to decrease. Therefore, denoising is a crucial preprocessing technique in sonar image applications. However, speckle noise is mainly caused by the sediment echo signals which are related to the background of seafloor sediment and can be obtained by prior modeling. Although deep learning-based denoising algorithms represent a research hotspot now, they are not suitable for such applications due to the high calculation amount and the large requirement of original images considering that sonar is carried by Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for collecting sonar images and performing calculation. In contrast, dictionary learning-based denoising method is more suitable and easier to be modeled. Compared with deep learning, it can greatly reduce the calculation amount and is more easily integrated into AUV systems. In addition, dictionary learning method based on image sparse representation can effectively achieve image denoising similarly. In order to solve the above problems, we propose a new adaptive dictionary learning method based on multi-resolution characteristics, which combines K-SVD dictionary learning with wavelet transform. Our method has the characteristics of dictionary learning and inherits the features of wavelet analysis as well. Compared with several classical methods, the proposed method is better at speckle noise reduction and edge detail preservation. At the same time, the calculation time is greatly reduced and the efficiency is significantly improved.
Gatekeeping Access: Shea Land Formalization and the Distribution of Market-Based Conservation Benefits in Ghana’s CREMA
Authors: Gilli Mengina , Côte Muriel , Walters Gretchen
Published: September 2020

Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) in Ghana combine conservation and development objectives and were introduced in the year 2000. In some cases, they have connected collectors of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) nuts with certified organic world markets, which can be understood as a ‘market-based’ approach to conservation. This paper examines how the benefits of this approach are distributed and argues that shea land formalization is crucial to this process. It makes this argument by drawing on interviews within two communities bordering Mole National Park. One community accepted to engage with, and benefitted from this approach, while the other did not. The paper analyzes narratives from different actors involved regarding why and how the market-based approach was accepted or rejected. It shows that, contrary to the neoliberal principles that underlie market-based conservation, a utility maximization rationale did not predominantly influence the (non-)engagement with this conservation approach. Instead, it was the history of land relations between communities and the state that influenced the decisions of the communities. We highlight the role of traditional authorities and NGOs brokering this process and unpack who in the communities profited and who was left out from benefits from this market-based conservation initiative.
Geometry and Geodesy on the Primary Visual Cortex as a Surface of Revolution
Authors: Resca Lorenzo G. , Mecholsky Nicholas A.
Published: September 2020

Biological mapping of the visual field from the eye retina to the primary visual cortex, also known as occipital area V1, is central to vision and eye movement phenomena and research. That mapping is critically dependent on the existence of cortical magnification factors. Once unfolded, V1 has a convex three-dimensional shape, which can be mathematically modeled as a surface of revolution embedded in three-dimensional Euclidean space. Thus, we solve the problem of differential geometry and geodesy for the mapping of the visual field to V1, involving both isotropic and non-isotropic cortical magnification factors of a most general form. We provide illustrations of our technique and results that apply to V1 surfaces with curve profiles relevant to vision research in general and to visual phenomena such as ‘crowding’ effects and eye movement guidance in particular. From a mathematical perspective, we also find intriguing and unexpected differential geometry properties of V1 surfaces, discovering that geodesic orbits have alternative prograde and retrograde characteristics, depending on the interplay between local curvature and global topology.
High-Titer Lactic Acid Production by Pediococcus acidilactici PA204 from Corn Stover through Fed-Batch Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation
Authors: Zhang Zhenting , Li Yanan , Zhang Jianguo , Peng Nan , Liang Yunxiang , Zhao Shumiao
Published: September 2020

Lignocellulose comprised of cellulose and hemicellulose is one of the most abundant renewable feedstocks. Lactic acid bacteria have the ability to ferment sugar derived from lignocellulose. In this study, Pediococcus acidilactici PA204 is a lactic acid bacterium with a high tolerance of temperature and high-efficiency utilization of xylose. We developed a fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process at 37 °C (pH 6.0) using the 30 FPU (filter paper units)/g cellulase and 20 g/L corn steep powder in a 5 L bioreactor to produce lactic acid (LA). The titer, yield, and productivity of LA produced from 12% (w/w) NaOH-pretreated and washed stover were 92.01 g/L, 0.77 g/g stover, and 1.28 g/L/h, respectively, and those from 15% NaOH-pretreated and washed stover were 104.11 g/L, 0.69 g/g stover, and 1.24 g/L/h, respectively. This study develops a feasible fed-batch SSF process for LA production from corn stover and provides a promising candidate strain for high-titer and -yield lignocellulose-derived LA production.