bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antreprenoriat in sistemele agroalimentare si de mediu
Authors: Radulescu Carmen Valentina
Published: March 2021

Aceast curs sistematizeaza informatiile referitoare la implicatiile dezvoltarii durabile pentru antreprenoriat si administrarea afacerilor, demonstreaza si exemplifica modul in care sustenabilitatea, ca rezultat al inovarii, poate deveni sursa de avantaj competitiv pentru antreprenori. In acest context, am acordat o atentie deosebita inovarii sustenabile, fapt pentru care s-au investigat conditiile pentru activarea acesteia prin analiza si evaluarea unor elemente de management al inovarii.
A CONSTRUÇÃO DA PROFISSIONALIDADE DOCENTE NAS NARRATIVAS DE PROFESSORAS APOSENTADAS
Authors: Lúcia Eiterer Carmen , Cristiane Fantoni Silva Ariadne , Cristina da Silva Maria
Published: March 2021

This text presents part of a master's research that aimed to understand the process of teaching professionalism from testimonies of retired teachers. These collaborating teachers joined the Municipal Education Network of Belo Horizonte in the 1980s and taught for the initial grades of elementary school. The narrative interviews allowed them to access the stories of teachers and produce knowledge about the profession and teaching professionalism. We were able to understand how the process of building the teachers' professionalism developed. We used Sacristán (1995) and Roldão (2005, 2007) to discuss the teaching profession, Nóvoa (1995, 2017), Tardif (2002), to discuss the specific knowledge of the teaching profession and also Tardif and Lessard (2007) on thecharacteristics of teaching work. We identified thematic units -the reasons for the teaching choice, the family, contexto and insertion in the profession and the construction of knowledge about teaching.
Soil Salinity and Its Management
Authors: Yuvaraj Muthuraman , Subash Chandra Bose Kasiviswanathan , Elavarasi Prabakaran , Tawfik Eman
Published: March 2021

Soil salinity is a growing threat all over the world due to its toxic effect to reduce soil fertility and water uptake in the crops. An average of 418 million ha soil is saline in nature. Various climatic, geomorphic and rainfall pattern causes which involved in saline soil formation. To reduce the toxic effect proper management of saline soil is required. Irrigation water also a major concern regarding soil salinity management. Saline irrigation water enhances and maintains the severity soil salinity. Crop production aspects root zone salinity provides a strong negative impact on soil fertility. Salinity causes the reduction in nutrient ion, and water uptake has a significant negative effect on crop yields. Soil and water salinity interactions and their influence on crop growth and management of salinity are deliberated in this chapter.
Use of Soy Milk in Lamb Feeding
Authors: Toukourou Youssouf , Moubarack Abdoulaye
Published: March 2021

Soy milk was administered to Djallonké Lambs in pre weaning. Three groups of 20 animals, all from a traditional farming, were performed. Group 1 (control) was deprived of soy milk. In the 2nd and 3rd group lambs received 50 and 100 ml soy milk respectively per head. Food supplementation with soy milk began a week after the lambs’ birth. Soy milk was administered daily at the same time in one meal using a suckling bottle before leaving to the pasture. The results showed a significant delay of growth of the control group compared to the other groups. At the end of the 2nd week, the body weight difference was in average 0.32and 0.42 kg respectively for the control and the two other groups. At the end of the 12th week this difference became 2.55 and 3.22 kg respectively for the control and the two other groups. No significant differences were observed between the live weights’ mean in the 2nd and 3rd group.
uMngeni Basin Water Quality Trend Analysis for River Health and Treatability Fitness
Authors: Rangeti Innocent , (Rimuka) Dzwairo Bloodless
Published: March 2021

One of the main challenges facing the potable water production industry is deterioration of the quality of raw water. Drinking water that does not meet quality standards is unfit for consumption. Yet, this quality is a function of various factors, key among them being quality of the raw water from which it is processed. This is because costs related to potable water treatment are related to the nature of raw water pollutants and the degree of pollution. Additionally, survival of aquatic species depends on self-purification of the water bodies through attenuation of pollutants, therefore, if this process is not efficient it might result in dwindling of the aquatic life. Hence, this chapter presents spatial and temporal water quality trends along uMngeni Basin, a critical raw water source for KwaZulu-Natal Province, in South Africa. As at 2014 the basin served about 3.8 million people with potable water. Results from this study are discussed in relation to uMngeni River’s health status and fitness for production of potable water treatment. Time-series and box plots of 11 water quality variables that were monitored at six stations over a period of eight years (2005 to 2012), were drawn and analysed. The Mann Kendall Trend Test and the Sen’s Slope Estimator were employed to test and quantify the magnitude of the quality trends, respectively. Findings showed that raw water (untreated) along uMngeni River was unfit for drinking purposes mainly because of high levels of Escherichia coli. However, the observed monthly average dissolved oxygen of 7 mg/L, that was observed on all stations, suggests that the raw water still met acceptable guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. It was noted that algae and turbidity levels peaked during the wet season (November to April), and these values directly relate to chlorine and polymer dosages during potable water treatment.
Interpretation of Water Quality Data in uMngeni Basin (South Africa) Using Multivariate Techniques
Authors: Rangeti Innocent , Dzwairo Bloodless
Published: March 2021

The major challenge with regular water quality monitoring programmes is making sense of the large and complex physico-chemical data-sets that are generated in a comparatively short period of time. Consequentially, this presents difficulties for water management practitioners who are expected to make informed decisions based on information extracted from the large data-sets. In addition, the nonlinear nature of water quality data-sets often makes it difficult to interpret the spatio-temporal variations. These reasons necessitated the need for effective methods of interpreting water quality results and drawing meaningful conclusions. Hence, this study applied multivariate techniques, namely Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis, to interpret eight-year (2005–2012) water quality data that was generated from a monitoring exercise at six stations in uMngeni Basin, South Africa. The principal components extracted with eigenvalues of greater than 1 were interpreted while considering the pollution issues in the basin. These extracted components explain 67–76% of the water quality variation among the stations. The derived significant parameters suggest that uMngeni Basin was mainly affected by the catchment’s geological processes, surface runoff, domestic sewage effluent, seasonal variation and agricultural waste. Cluster Analysis grouped the sampling six stations into two clusters namely heavy (B) or low (A), based on the degree of pollution. Cluster A mainly consists of water sampling stations that were located in the outflow of the dam (NDO, IDO, MDO and NDI) and its water can be described as of fairly good quality due to dam retention and attenuation effects. Cluster B mainly consist of dam inflow water sampling stations (MDI and IDI), which can be described as polluted if compared to cluster A. The poor quality water observed at Cluster B sampling stations could be attributed to natural and anthropogenic activities through point source and runoff. The findings could assist in determining an appropriate set of water quality parameters that would indicate variation of water quality in the basin, with minimum loss of information. It is, therefore, recommended that this approach be used to assist decision-makers regarding strategies for minimising catchment pollution.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms: A Modern Tool to Screen Plants for Desirable Traits
Authors: I. Udoh Lovina , Peggy Obaseojei Willie , Uzoebo Chiebuka
Published: March 2021

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) represent a change in a single nucleotide within the genome. This can alter the phenotype of an individual within the same species if it occurs in a coding region of the gene. The change in nucleotide can produce desirable characteristic in plants and can become an object for selection. New SNPs have been discovered and subsequently converted to molecular markers using various non-gel based and next generation sequencing platforms. Considering that SNP markers are based on target genes, its abundance in the genome, high automation and multiplexability, has made it a marker of choice and an effective tool for screening plant germplasm for desirable traits. This chapter considers SNP as molecular marker, their discovery and different SNP genotyping methods was documented. A few case studies of SNP as allele specific markers and their association with traits of interest was considered. Thus, highlighting their efficacy as useful tool for marker assisted selection and plant germplasms screening.
Analysis and Two-Dimensional Modeling of Directional Coupler Based on Two Coplanar Lines
Authors: Acheghaf Anouar , Amar Touhami Naima
Published: March 2021

This chapter is dedicated to physical modeling and numerical characterization of directional coupler based on two coplanar lines using the general theory of coupled lines. The modeling in this chapter is two-dimensional due to the chosen numerical method (MOMs), for that purpose the analysis is divided into steps, we started by analyzing and modeling a micro-coplanar line in the quasi-TEM approximation using Green’s functions and the integral equation method then we conclude by using the telegraphist equations and the results of the first step to modeling a couple of micro-coplanar lines.
Simulation and Optimization of an Integrated Process Flow Sheet for Cement Production
Authors: M. Fadayini Oluwafemi , A. Obisanya Adekunle , O. Ajiboye Gloria , Madu Clement , O. Ipaye Tajudeen , O. Rabiu Taiwo , J. Ajayi Shola , T. Akintola Joseph
Published: March 2021

In this study the process flow diagram for the cement production was simulated using Aspen HYSYS 8.8 software to achieve high energy optimization and optimum cement flow rate by varying the flow rate of calcium oxide and silica in the clinker feed. Central composite Design (C.C.D) of Response Surface Methodology was used to design the ten experiments for the simulation using Design Expert 10.0.3. Energy efficiency optimization is also carried out using Aspen Energy Analyser. The optimum cement flow rate is found from the contour plot and 3D surface plot to be 47.239 tonnes/day at CaO flow rate of 152.346 tonnes/day and the SiO2 flow rate of 56.8241 tonnes/day. The R2 value of 0.9356 determined from the statistical analysis shows a good significance of the model. The overall utilities in terms of energy are found to be optimised by 81.4% from 6.511 x 107 kcal/h actual value of 1.211 x 107 kcal/h with 297.4 tonnes/day the carbon emission savings.
Long-Term Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Growing Population
Authors: Bilani Nadeem , Blessing Elimimian Elizabeth , Elson Leah , Liang Hong , Nahleh Zeina
Published: March 2021

Breast cancer represents the most common malignancy among women. However, due to effective public health campaigns and updated screening guidelines, the annual incidence of late stage diagnoses has fallen. This stage migration has allowed for better prognosis and more women achieving long-term survival. In this chapter, we review long-term survivorship – defined as 10 years from diagnosis – as reported in the United States and around the world. Additionally, we provide analysis for socio-demographic, clinical and pathologic factors associated with 10-year survival, using data from a large national registry. This chapter also utilizes historical case data to forecast stage migration patterns in breast cancer diagnoses, within the United States, to 2030. Finally, we discuss the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic on breast cancer treatment and access to care, with a review of clinical considerations for the future.
Role of Intraoperative Endoscopy in the Management of Small Bowel Diseases
Authors: Gupta Rahul , K. Singh Arvind , Gupta Jyoti , Ammar Houssem
Published: March 2021

With the advances in the endoscopic technology, most of the small bowel diseases are being diagnosed by capsule endoscopy and device assisted enteroscopy. However, there are many clinical situations such as small bowel obstruction, foreign body impaction were these advanced endoscopic procedures cannot be performed. In such cases, intraoperative endoscopy plays a vital role in the management of these small bowel diseases. Intraoperative endoscopy is also very useful in identification of the site of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in difficult cases. Moreover, capsule endoscopy and device assisted enteroscopy are expensive procedures and not readily available at all medical centers especially in low income countries. On the other hand, intraoperative endoscopy can be easily performed by conventional gastroscope and colonoscope. In this chapter, we have discussed the indications, techniques, outcomes and complications of intraoperative endoscopy in the current era of deep enteroscopy.
Itaipu Technology Park: An Eco-Innovative Niche for Renewable Energies
Authors: De Pra Carvalho Andriele , Kindl da Cunha Sieglinde
Published: March 2021

Technology parks are considered innovative environments for the development of new technologies, in a dynamic that can be explained by the micro level of multilevel analysis of the theory of sociotechnical transition, by contributing to explain the actors responsible for the process of development and dissemination of technology. The cases analyzed were composed of companies and eco-innovative projects in the renewable energy area of the Itaipu Technological Park. The methodology was based on a study of multiple cases of qualitative nature, supported by content analysis and triangulation of information. The main results showed that the ITP, with the support of its maintainer Itaipu Binacional, created an environment conducive to the development of eco-innovative companies in renewable energies, stimulating the exchange of knowledge between companies and favoring partnerships with national and international companies for technological development.
Nitrogen Management in Conservation Agriculture
Authors: Imoudu Oyeogbe Anthony
Published: March 2021

Transitioning to conservation ‘sustainable’ agriculture (CA) from the conventional ‘industrial’ agriculture often increase nitrogen (N) limitation, particularly in the first few years. Inadequate N availability is associated with the permanent crop residues on the soil surface. The soil available N for crop uptake is immobilized by microbial sources of organic residues mineralization. The increase in N immobilization contributes to yield declines, and thus, researchers are advocating for the inclusion of N management as the fourth principle in CA. The challenge for CA under optimized N fertilization is how to reduce environmentally-damaging greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from yield-related productivity. This paper focuses on efficient N management under CA system. Here, we showed the impacts of adaptive N management on crop yields increase, soil health enhancement, and greenhouse gases mitigation. We conclude that efficient N management using innovative technologies and good agronomic practice can scale-up the adoption of CA. An adaptive N management in CA can maintain environmental benefits while contributing to improved soil health and crop productivity. Moreover, the implementation of adaptive N management must be tailored to crop and soil types and location-specific.
LabView and Connections with Third-Party Hardware
Authors: Porzio Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

Data acquisition is a function that plays a fundamental role in the automatic supervision and system control, it combine the system (software and hardware) to the process to be controlled (real world). The field of application starts from research to automation, from industry to home automation, in practice everything that in some way must be performed without human supervision. Data acquisition systems are mainly used to measure physical phenomena such as: temperature, voltage, current, distance and pressure, shock and vibration, and displacement, RPM, angle and discrete events, weight. In order to measure it we need a DAQ , Data AcQuisition System, in this chapter we propose to use a cheap open source hardware: Arduino.
Perturbation Methods to Analysis of Thermal, Fluid Flow and Dynamics Behaviors of Engineering Systems
Authors: M. Sobamowo Gbeminiyi
Published: March 2021

This chapter presents the applications of perturbation methods such as regular and homotopy perturbation methods to thermal, fluid flow and dynamic behaviors of engineering systems. The first example shows the utilization of regular perturbation method to thermal analysis of convective-radiative fin with end cooling and thermal contact resistance. The second example is concerned with the application of homotopy perturbation method to squeezing flow and heat transfer of Casson nanofluid between two parallel plates embedded in a porous medium under the influences of slip, Lorentz force, viscous dissipation and thermal radiation. Additionally, the dynamic behavior of piezoelectric nanobeam embedded in linear and nonlinear elastic foundations operating in a thermal-magnetic environment is analyzed using homotopy perturbation method which is presented in the third example. It is believed that the presentation in this chapter will enhance the understanding of these methods for the real world applications.
LabVIEW as Power Disturbances Classification Tools
Authors: Farid Abidin Ahmad , Abdul Talib Mat Yusoh Mohd
Published: March 2021

Power disturbances monitoring is one of the important aspects on dealing power quality issue in electrical system. The aims of conducting monitoring process are to identify the real culprit which contribute to the Power Quality (PQ) problem. One of the vital steps during monitoring process is the classifying various type of power disturbance. This classification process is very important to give a right direction towards proposing the correct mitigation technique. In order to produce reliable classification technique, the devices which has a flexibility on accommodating the software and hardware part need to be deployed. The software is need for algorithm development such as signal processing, Artificial Intelligent (AI) as well as statistical analysis. On the hardware part, the device’s ability to acquire the electrical parameter within the electrical system operation is very important. The data acquisition based on the voltage and current is essential to be feed in the classification algorithm in software side. On the other hand, the interfacing devices and data acquisition module need to be developed at the hardware side, LabVIEW manage to accommodate both software and hardware need and further development of the LabVIEW for this purpose will be elaborated in this chapter.
EMbaffle® Heat Transfer Technology Step-Up in CO2 Reduction
Authors: Rottoli Marco , Agazzi Daniele , Garavaglia Marcello , Grisoni Fabio
Published: March 2021

EMbaffle® is a proprietary shell and tube heat exchanger technology, designed to improve performance by pressure drops control, with suppressed tube vibrations. Developed to minimize fouling accumulation in crude oil units, the technology has proved to be effective in Gas treatment and Petrochemical, supporting the increase in gas–gas and cooling water flow rate per-unit demand, and in Renewable CSP, where Molten Salt units get a primary role in thermal storage and power efficiency. Diamond shape and baffle-grids number are the instruments for the design engineer to exploit exchanger efficiency against pressure drops, aimed to the desired performance with the optimized power consumption. Further to introduce the base of the technology, this work will also address the design of higher compact units by combining the grids performance with the improved exchanger tube surface. Experimental data to support the grid life under critical working conditions and actual performances with fluids density and viscosity are reported.
Critical Analysis of Human Exposure to Bisphenol A and Its Novel Implications on Renal, Cardiovascular and Hypertensive Diseases
Authors: Moreno-Gómez-Toledano Rafael , I. Arenas María , Sánchez-Esteban Sandra , Cook Alberto , Saura Marta , J. Bosch Ricardo
Published: March 2021

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor involved in synthesizing numerous types of plastics, is detected in almost the entire population’s urine. The present work aims to estimate daily exposure to BPA by systematically reviewing all articles with original data related to urinary BPA concentration. This approach is based on human pharmacokinetic models, which have shown that 100% of BPA (free and metabolized form) is eliminated only in a few hours through urine. Several extensive population studies and experimental data have recently proven a significant association between urinary excretion of BPA and albuminuria, associated with renal damage. Our team’s previous work has shown that low-dose BPA can promote a cytotoxic effect on renal mouse podocytes. Moreover, BPA administration in mice promotes kidney damage and hypertension. Furthermore, preliminary studies in human renal cells in culture (podocytes) strongly suggest that BPA might also promote kidney damage. Overall, the present review analyzed BPA exposure data from mammalian cell studies, experimental animal models, and several human populations. Studying principal cohorts calculated the exposures to BPA globally, showing a high BPA exposure suggesting the need to decrease BPA exposure more effectively, emphasizing groups with higher sensitivity as kidney disease patients.
Proprioception in Immersive Virtual Reality
Authors: Vladimirovich Zakharov Alexander , Vladimirovich Kolsanov Alexander , Viktorovna Khivintseva Elena , Fedorovich Pyatin Vasiliy , Vladimirovich Yashkov Alexander
Published: March 2021

Currently, in connection with the advent of virtual reality (VR) technologies, methods that recreate sensory sensations are rapidly developing. Under the conditions of VR, which is an immersive environment, a variety of multimodal sensory experiences can be obtained. It is urgent to create explicit immersive environments that allow maximizing the full potential of VR technology. Activation of the proprioceptive sensory system, coupled with the activation of the visual analyzer system, allows you to achieve sensations of interaction with VR objects, identical to the sensations of the real physical world. Today, the activation of proprioceptive sensations is achieved using various devices, including robotic ones, which are not available for use in routine medical practice. The immersive multisensory environment makes it possible to significantly personalize the rehabilitation process, ensuring its continuity and effectiveness at various stages of the pathological process and varying degrees of severity of physical disorders, while significantly reducing the burden on the healthcare system by automating the rehabilitation process and objectively assessing the effectiveness. Further development and increased availability of VR technologies and devices that allow achieving an increase in immersion due to sensory immersion will be in great demand as a technology that allows teaching patients motor skills.
Effect of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on HPG Axis: A Reproductive Endocrine Homeostasis
Authors: Gupta Priya , Mahapatra Archisman , Suman Anjali , Kumar Singh Rahul
Published: March 2021

The hypothalamic–pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis plays a crucial and integrative role in the mammalian endocrine regulation to maintain homeostasis. The HPG axis is primarily responsible for governing all the hormonal events related to reproductive activity. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) comprise a diverse group of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds that mimic and interfere with the endogenous chemical hormones. Epidemiological investigations have shown increasing evidence of altered development and detrimental effects on reproductive health during the past 50 years associated with endocrine disruptors affecting the HPG axis. The pleiotropic harmful effects of EDCs act through hormone-dependent downstream signaling pathways responsible for gonad development either through direct interaction with steroid hormone receptor or via epigenetic regulation. Hence, this chapter summarizes the biological plausibility of EDCs exposure and elucidates the mechanism of action underlying EDCs affecting the regulatory circuits of the mammalian HPG axis and reproductive function.
Near-Field Communications (NFC) for Wireless Power Transfer (WPT): An Overview
Authors: Lathiya Poonam , Wang Jing
Published: March 2021

Recent advancements in the semiconductor integrated circuits and functional materials technologies have accelerated the demand of electronic and biomedical devices such as internet of things (IoT) and wearable sensors, which have low power consumption, miniature size and high data transfer efficiency. Wireless power transfer (WPT) has become the alternative solution to current electronic devices that rely on bulky batteries to supply the power and energy. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is extensively used for wireless power transfer, where devices communicate through inductive coupling via induced magnetic fields between transmit and receive coils (loop antennas). Thin NFC sheets made of soft magnetic materials are inserted between antennas and metal case of wireless gadgets, such as mobile phones or tablets, to reduce the degradation of antenna gain and radiation efficiency due to generation of eddy currents. To enhance the efficiency of wireless power transfer, magnetic materials with superb properties such as high permeability, low magnetic loss and high resistivity are highly desirable. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the current state of the art, recent progress and future directions in NFC based wireless power transfer, with the special focus on near field communications operating at 13.56 MHz.
Prototyping and Production of Polymeric Microfluidic Chip
Authors: Zhang Honggang , Zhang Haoyang , Guan Tianyu , Wang Xiangyu , Zhang Nan
Published: March 2021

Microfluidic chips have found many advanced applications in the areas of life science, analytical chemistry, agro-food analysis, and environmental detection. This chapter focuses on investigating the commonly used manufacturing technologies and process chain for the prototyping and mass production of microfluidic chips. The rapid prototyping technologies comprising of PDMS casting, micro machining, and 3D-printing are firstly detailed with some important research findings. Scaling up the production process chain for microfluidic chips are discussed and summarized with the perspectives of tooling technology, replication, and bonding technologies, where the primary working mechanism, technical advantages and limitations of each process method are presented. Finally, conclusions and future perspectives are given. Overall, this chapter demonstrates how to select the processing materials and methods to meet practical requirements for microfluidic chip batch production. It can provide significant guidance for end-user of microfluidic chip applications.
Living Heritage Educational Experiences in a Pandemic Scenario. The Case Study of the Ethnomedicine Museum A. Scarpa
Authors: Siri Anna
Published: March 2021

Heritage is inherently communicative; it is designed to transmit and represent. As stated by UNESCO, living heritage is fundamental because it provides communities and individuals with a sense of identity and continuity. It can help promote social cohesion, respect for cultural diversity and human creativity, as well as help communities build resilient, peaceful and inclusive societies. Ensuring that cultural heritage fulfils the function for which it was conceived and generated, even in the case of closures forced by health emergencies, means enhancing it, giving it the possibility to continue transmitting culture. In the current COVID-19 global pandemic scenario, we are helped by the many educational strategies available today thanks to science and technology that enable people of all ages to learn continuously, anytime, anywhere and in a variety of situations combining formal, non-formal and informal learning. The current scenario has forced a redesign of the way citizens, and especially students, access their formal education. This contribution aims to highlight the importance of using the self-determined approach for training and proposes a blended learning model (formal in virtual classrooms and informal in a museum) for intercultural education of health professionals. A model which can be reproduced in continuing education and which represents an innovative way of experiencing heritage in any situation.
Epidemiology, Genetics and Resistance of Alternaria Blight in Oilseed Brassica
Authors: Das Jyoti Subroto , Sultana Naima , Hassan Lutful , Hasan Khan Robin Arif
Published: March 2021

Alternaria blight is one of the most deadly diseases of oilseed Brassica. This recalcitrant disease causes up to 50% yield loss across the globe. The disease is mainly caused by Alternaria brassicae and Alternaria brassicicola. These pathogens lack sexual stages and survive as conidia or condiospores on the debris of previous crops and susceptible weeds. Developing resistant oilseed Brassica cultivars to this disease has become a prime concern for researchers over the years. In absence of resistant oilseed Brassica cultivar, identification and introgression of resistance related genes can be a potential source for Alternaria blight resistance. As resistance toward Alternaria blight is governed by polygenes, intercrossing between the tolerant genotypes and subsequent selection will be the most appropriate way to transfer the quantitative resistance. For that reason, future breeding goal should focus on screening of germplasms for selecting genotypes containing resistance genes and structural features that favors resistance, like thick epicuticular wax, biochemical components such as phenols, phytoalexins and lower soluble sugars, reducing sugars and soluble nitrogen. Selected genotypes should be brought under appropriate breeding programs for attaining Alternaria blight resistance.
Systematic e-Service Innovation
Authors: Mann Darrell
Published: March 2021

Most service innovation attempts end in failure. Systematic e-Service Innovation is the result of a twenty-year program of research to reveal the ‘DNA’ of the successful attempts. The research shows: 1. Most service innovation attempts fail on their first day because they begin from a false understanding of what customers want. Organisations know they are supposed to listen to the ‘voice of the customer’, but, despite massive amounts of digital data capture, they still have little idea what to listen for. 2. The number of service challenges is very finite, and guaranteed that someone, somewhere has already solved your service problem. 3. The most powerful solutions are the ones that successfully eliminate the compromises and trade-offs conventionally viewed as inherent to service operations. 4. There are only a small number of possible strategies for overcoming such contradictions. 5. Service industry strategy, business and market evolution trends follow highly predictable paths.
Nutraceuticals of Tea (Camellia sinensis) for Human Health
Authors: Kamal Senapati Kula
Published: March 2021

This book chapter describes about the phytochemicals in tea which are significantly useful in preparing nutraceutical products. The polyphenols along with other bioactive compounds present in tea have many pharmacological properties which attribute to the development of various food products where tea constitutes as an active ingredient. This chapter also discusses the potential uses of tea and their bioactive constituents in treatment and prevention of diseases in human which infer the potentiality of developing and popularizing nutraceuticals of tea.
Oxytocin and Neuroprotective Effects
Authors: Erbaş Oytun , Altuntaş İlknur
Published: March 2021

The neurohormone oxytocin (OT), consisting of nine amino acids, is produced in the hypothalamus and secreted from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Recent studies show that OT can affect the course of the disease and is promising in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, due to its therapeutic properties and benefits. Histological and biochemical findings of the studies on vincristine-induced neuropathy, cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity, diabetic neuropathy, rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease, hypoxia, and stroke, which are reviewed in this chapter, revealed that OT significantly prevented neuronal damage with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, the neuroprotective effects of OT and the underlying molecular mechanisms continue to attract the attention of scientists.
Learning Mathematics in an Immersive Way
Authors: Perri Damiano , Simonetti Marco , Tasso Sergio , Gervasi Osvaldo
Published: March 2021

In this work we introduce a learning system based on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality for studying analytical-geometric structures that are part of the curriculum in mathematics and physics in high school classes. We believe that an immersive study environment has several advantages with respect to traditional two-dimensional environments (such as a book or the simple screen of a PC or even a tablet), such as the spatial understanding of the concepts exposed, more peripheral awareness and moreover an evident decreasing in the information dispersion phenomenon. This does not mean that our teaching proposal has to substitute the traditional approaches, but it can be seen as a robust tool to support learning. In the first phase of our research we have sought to understand which mathematical objects and which tools could have been used to enhance the teaching of mathematics, in order to demonstrate that the use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality techniques significantly improves the level of understanding of the mathematical subject being studied by the students. The system which provides for the integration of two machine levels, hardware and software, was subsequently tested by a representative sample of students who then provided feedback through a questionnaire.
Effect of Helicobacter pylori on Tight Junctions in Gastric Epithelia
Authors: Patricia Rendón-Huerta Erika , Abraham García-García Carlos , Felipe Montaño Estrada Luis
Published: March 2021

Molecular complexes grouped under the names of tight, adherent or gap junction regulate the flow of water, ions and macromolecules through epithelium paracellular spaces. The main constituents of tight junctions are claudins, a family of 26 different proteins whose expression and distribution are tissue specific but varies in tumors. A change in claudin 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 18 expression, that contributes to lose epithelial cohesion, has been associated to enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness in gastric neoplastic tissue. Chronic inflammation process induced by H. pylori infection, a major risk factor for gastric cancer development, disrupts tight junctions via CagA gene, Cag pathogenicity island, and VacA, but the effect upon the epithelial barrier of H. pylori lipopolysaccharides or H. pylori-induced up-regulation of mTOR and ERK signaling pathways by microRNA-100 establishes new concepts of proof.
Dietary Patterns for Immunity Support and Systemic Inflammation against Infections: A Narrative Review
Authors: Setiawan Budhi , Masfufatun Masfufatun
Published: March 2021

Nutrition has been recognized to play a regulatory role in human immune response and inflammation which may affect the pathogenesis of diseases. Current evidence suggests that the habitual dietary pattern therapeutical approach provides more synergistic beneficial action than the intervention of a single nutrient constituent. Several healthy dietary patterns are essential for the human immunity support against infectious diseases through alleviation of systemic inflammation. Long-term dietary patterns may affect the diversity of intestinal microbiota composition and lead to the decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines from immune-related cells. Protease that may cause gut barrier breakdown (leaky gut) can be reduced either thus lessen translocation of endogenous bacterial endotoxin such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the gut lumen to the bloodstream. In this review, we discuss the relationship between common healthy food-based dietary patterns with the protection of infectious diseases as a result of improvement in immune function and low-grade inflammatory indices. In contrary to the deleterious impact of the western diet, healthy eating habits (Mediterranean diet, dietary approaches to stop hypertension, plant-based diet, ketogenic diet) are associated with reduced susceptibility to infectious disease by the improvement of certain underlying metabolic comorbidities. Further studies are needed to determine suitable strategic implications of healthy dietary patterns on infectious disease mitigation in a particular context.
Blockchain-Empowered Mobile Edge Intelligence, Machine Learning and Secure Data Sharing
Authors: Du Yao , Miao Shuxiao , Tong Zitian , Lemieux Victoria , Wang Zehua
Published: March 2021

Driven by recent advancements in machine learning, mobile edge computing (MEC) and the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) has become an emerging technology. Traditional machine learning approaches require the training data to be collected and processed in centralized servers. With the advent of new decentralized machine learning approaches and mobile edge computing, the IoT on-device data training has now become possible. To realize AI at the edge of the network, IoT devices can offload training tasks to MEC servers. However, those distributed frameworks of edge intelligence also introduce some new challenges, such as user privacy and data security. To handle these problems, blockchain has been considered as a promising solution. As a distributed smart ledger, blockchain is renowned for high scalability, privacy-preserving, and decentralization. This technology is also featured with automated script execution and immutable data records in a trusted manner. In recent years, as quantum computers become more and more promising, blockchain is also facing potential threats from quantum algorithms. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art in these cutting-edge technologies by summarizing the available literature in the research field of blockchain-based MEC, machine learning, secure data sharing, and basic introduction of post-quantum blockchain. We also discuss the real-world use cases and outline the challenges of blockchain-empowered intelligence.
Metabolomic Changes in Wood Inhabiting Filamentous Fungi during Ontogenesis
Authors: V. Sazanova Katerina , V. Psurtseva Nadezhda , L. Shavarda Alexey
Published: March 2021

GC–MS-based metabolomic profiling of different strains of basidiomycetes Lignomyces vetlinianus, Daedaleopsis tricolor and Sparassis crispa were studied. On different stages of growth in the methanol extracts of mycelium the different compounds including amino acids, organic acid of TCA cycle, sugars, fatty acids, sugar alcohols, and sugar acids were detected. Changes in the metabolite network occurring with age of the mycelium of L. vetlinianus and D. tricolor are discussed. The exponential phase of mycelium growth is characterized by pronounced differences during of growth, which manifests itself both in the analysis of specific compounds and in the modeling of the statistical model of the metabolic network. The metabolomic network in the stationary growth phase is less susceptible to changes over time, and is also characterized by a lower dispersion of samples from one aging group. For some compounds, including biotechnologically significant ones, targeted analysis by GC–MS was performed. 4, 6-dimethoxy-phthalide (4, 6-dimetoxy-1 (3H) -isobenzofuranone) was isolated from the mycelium of Lignomyces vetlinianus, accumulating in the mycelium in the form of large aggregates. The accumulation of sparassol and other orsellinic acid derivatives in Sparassis crispa culture under various conditions is described.
The Function of FEN1 is Regulated by Post-Translational Modification
Authors: Wu Zhenxing , Mo Xiaofen , Lang Chengbo , Luo Jinjing
Published: March 2021

Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a multifunctional DNA branching nuclease. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) exist in this protein widely, including phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination and small ubiquitination modification (SUMO). Here, we make a summary for those PTMs studies on FEN1, to illustrate relationships between mutations of those amino acids and their functions alteration of FEN1. Numerous evidences have confirmed that dysfunction of FEN1 would lead to genome instability, and then induce a variety of chromosome-related diseases ultimately, including tumors. On one hand, interaction partner also stimulates FEN1 nuclease activity, to further ensure an effective role in the processing of different DNA structures; on the other hand, PTMs may regulate protein-protein interactions and FEN1’s cellular localization.
Promoting Partnership between Urban Design and Urban Ecology through Social-Ecological Resilience Building
Authors: Colding Johan , Marcus Lars , Barthel Stephan
Published: March 2021

A closer partnership between urban design and urban ecology can yield new knowledge with the predictive advancement of both fields. However, achieving such partnership is not always a straight-forward process due to different epistemological departures. This chapter provides a rudimentary background of the fields of urban design and urban ecology and familiarizes readers with some epistemological characteristics that are useful to consider in all forms of partnership activities between designers and ecologists. Social-ecological resilience offers a useful framework for inquiry of particular relevance for urban transition at a time when global societal challenges of massive biodiversity loss and climate change require urgent attention and where wicked environmental problems require creative urban tinkering. Such a framework could open up for more dynamic research approaches with a greater potential to bridge the gap between design and ecology that has tended to be dominated by relatively static design approaches in the past, ignoring a more non-linear understanding of the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems. The chapter ends by focusing on some important determinants for cooperation and dealing with ‘Research Through Design(ing)’ as a viable methodology for transition to urban sustainability.
TeraVision: A LabVIEW Software for THz Hyper-Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Kumar Rohit , Yu Qiucheng , Paparo Domenico , Rubano Andrea
Published: March 2021

Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (TDS) has emerged during the last two decades as a very popular technique for characterizing the low-energy excitations of several materials, gaseous, liquids and solids, as well as artificial materials as for instance epitaxial heterostructures and more. In recent years, the advances in THz technology allowed obtaining nonlinear optical effects with THz photons, showing remarkable results. In particular, THz Hyper-Raman Spectroscopy greatly expands the spectroscopic capability of the standard THz-TDS by combining intense and broadband THz pulses with a detailed analysis of the spectral content of the generated signal. It is evident that this improvement needs an adequate software support. The main parameter for coding the software which differs with respect to a standard THz-TDS software is the control of a motorized grating (monochromator), but several routines employed in the setup optimization stage rather than the actual measurement are needed as well. In this paper we present the TeraVision software, based on LabVIEW code, in order to highlight the solutions we adopted to tackle the main experimental challenges as well as to give a pleasant and user-friendly experience to expert users.
An Analysis of the Implication of Estrogens and Steroid Receptor Coactivators in the Genetic Basis of Gender Incongruence
Authors: Fernández Rosa , Ramírez Karla , Delgado-Zayas Enrique , Gómez-Gil Esther , Esteva Isabel , Guillamon Antonio , Pásaro Eduardo
Published: March 2021

In mammals, sex differences in the adult brain are established very early in development, when the brain is still very immature. In the case of having inherited the SRY gene, during embryogenesis, testosterone secreted by the testes enters the brain and is converted to estradiol by the aromatase. Then the estradiol acts by binding to intracellular estrogen receptors (ERs) located predominantly in neurons, masculinizing specific brain regions. But ERs are also transcription factors that, when they are exposed to their ligand, dimerize and form complexes with coactivator proteins and corepressors, modifying the transcription of multiple target genes in a cascade effect and ultimately neuronal function. Given the intimate relationship between steroids and brain dimorphism, and steroid coactivators and gene transcription, in the present work, we further explore the implication of ERs α and β, and steroid coactivators NCoA-1, NCoA-2, NCoA-3, NCoA-4, NCoA-5 and p300-CREBBP, in the genesis of brain dimorphism. Based on our data, we believe that the coactivators NCOA-1, NCOA-2 and p300-CREBBP could be considered as candidate genes for GI.
Strategic Human Resource Management: 37 Years in Academia, How Many in Practice? A Focus on Large Companies
Authors: Garmendia Alaine , Elorza Unai , Uribetxebarria Urtzi
Published: March 2021

In the fast-changing global workplace of today, maintaining competitive advantage has become imperative to survival. Employees matter today more than ever since they become non-imitable sources of firm uniqueness that can deliver value to every stakeholder. Based on this, the field of Strategic HRM has gained a special interest among researchers and practitioners since it employs a strategic approach to the role of employees within the organisations. However, looking at the business world results, it looks like there is a divorce between academia and practitioners and that they are operating in a parallel way. With the aim of evidencing this gap and echoing this issue, this chapter is structured as follows. It starts with a summary of the research conducted under the SHRM field in the last two decades. It follows with a section that evidences the gap between research and practice showing the results of global companies’ surveys related to people management. In the third section a special focus on big companies is done due to their importance when legitimizing managerial trends. The chapter finishes with some conclusions and thoughts for future managers.