bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Special Issue on NIED Frontier Research on Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience 2019
Authors: Hayashi Haruo , Fukuyama Eiichi 
Published: December 2019

The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) is working on three tasks: predicting disasters, preventing damage, and realizing speedy reconstruction and recovery efforts in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, torrential rains, blizzards, and ice storms.
In the last three years of the NIED’s fourth mid/long term plan period, which began in 2016, natural disasters have occurred every year, including earthquake disasters such as the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake (M7.3) and the 2018 Iburi, Hokkaido, earthquake (M7.1). Disasters of the rainfall include the heavy rainfall in the northern Kyushu (Fukuoka and Oita) in July 2017, the heavy rain event in southwestern Japan in July 2018, the rainfall in northern Kyushu (Saga) in August 2019, and the heavy rainfall in Kanto and Tohoku in October 2019. There were also other disasters: an avalanche accident on Nasudake in 2017 and a phreatic eruption of Kusatsu-Shiranesan in 2018.
Due to the above-mentioned very frequent occurrence of such natural disasters on the Japanese islands, our institute has conducted several research projects to mitigate the damage from such disasters and to accelerate the recovery from them. As the third NIED special issue in the Journal of Disaster Research, several related research results were presented such as those on seismic disasters (Wakai et al., Nakazawa et al., and Ohsumi et al.), those on climatic disasters (Nakamura, and Ishizawa and Danjo), and those of their integrated researches for disaster risk reduction (Cui et al. and Nakajima et al.).
Although the achievements detailed in these papers are the results of individual research, the NIED hopes that these results as a whole will be fully utilized to promote science and technology for disaster risk reduction and resilience. The NIED hopes that this special issue awakens the readers’ interest in new research and, of course, creates an opportunity for further collaborative works with us.
Beneficial effects of melatonin in juvenile rats with heart failure
Authors: Wu Yao , Si Feifei , Luo Li , Jing Fengchuan , Jiang Kunfeng , Feng Siqi , Su Ya , Yi Qijian 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background: Adult rodent studies showed that melatonin is very effective in treatment of ameliorating cardiovascular disease. Melatonin is also able to reduce cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (HF) in juvenile rodents. Here, we study the effect of melatonin on the cardiac function of juvenile rats with HF. Methods: Juvenile rats with HF were induced by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). Sham-operated rats were established in parallel. Five weeks after the surgery, rats with ventricular dysfunction were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment group was injected with melatonin (10 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneal injection), and the HF group was injected with placebo. Simultaneously, placebo was administered to the sham group. Results: After administration for 4 weeks, the treated rats did not exhibit a decline in cardiac function as assessed by echocardiography analysis. Moreover, the increase in expression of ANP, BNP, caspase-1, IL-1β, bax, CaMKII, PLN, and RyR2 was markedly blunted by melatonin, while the decrease in expression of bcl-2 was improved in the melatonin treated rats. Conclusions: Our findings support a protective role of melatonin in cardiomyocytes, at least in part via reducing cardiac pyroptosis, apoptosis and remaining calcium homeostasis.
Exosome-shuttled miRNAs contribute to the modulation of the neuroinflammatory microglia phenotype by mesenchymal stem cells. Implication for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Giunti Debora , Marini Chiara , Parodi Benedetta , Usai Cesare , Milanese Marco , Bonanno Giambattista , Rosbo Nicole Kerlero de , Uccelli Antonio 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are characterized by neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and neuroregenerative properties, which support their therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases driven by microglia-associated inflammation, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). One mode of action through which MSCs exert their immunomodulatory effects is the release of extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, that carry proteins, mRNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs), which, once transferred, modify the function of target cells. We have investigated the role of miRNAs present in exosomes derived from IFN-γ-primed mouse MSCs in the modulation of microglia activation, and analysed their effect on target genes and signaling pathways. Methods We compared miRNA expression in IFN-γ-primed vs unprimed mouse MSCs by microarray and measured the levels of relevant miRNAs in their respective exosomes through RT-PCR. To assess the effect of dysregulated MSC-derived miRNAs, we transfected lipopolysaccharide-activated N9 microglial line cells and primary microglia from late-symptomatic SOD1G93A ALS mice with their specific mimics and analysed the mRNA expression of pro/anti-inflammatory genes in the cells. We used mirWalk and Panther and KEGG Pathway databases to predict target genes of specific miRNAs and possible pathways they regulate. Data were compared using Student’s t-test. Results We identified nine miRNAs that were significantly dysregulated in IFN-γ-primed MSCs, but present at different levels in their derived exosomes. Transfection with three of the four miRNAs significantly upregulated in IFN-γ-primed MSC-derived exosomes, namely miR-467f, miR-466q and miR-466m-5p, could modulate the pro-inflammatory phenotype of N9 microglia by downregulating Tnf and/or Il1b expression, and/or upregulating Cx3cr1 expression. We obtained similar results in primary microglia from SOD1G93A mice transfected with miR-467f and miR-466q. Further analysis of the mode of action of miR-467f and miR-466q indicated that they dampen the pro-inflammatory phenotype of microglia by modulating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway via inhibition of the expression of their target genes, Map3k8 and Mk2. Conclusion These results suggest that exosome-mediated transfer of functional miRNAs could be one mode of action through which MSCs exert their therapeutic effect in ALS by downregulating neuroinflammatory microglia, and identify miR-467f and miR-466q as immunomodulatory miRNAs involved in this process.
The development and process evaluation of the ACTION study: A person-centred communication intervention targeting nurse assistants in home care for older persons
Authors: Gustafsson Tanja , Sundler Annelie J , Lindberg Elisabeth , Karlsson Pernilla , Söderholm Hanna Maurin 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background A rapidly ageing population challenges the health care system in general and home care services in particular. Communication is a cornerstone of person-centred care. However, little research has been conducted on how to improve communication between health care professionals and older persons in home care contexts, despite research showing the importance of such interactions. The increasing demands on how to best and efficiently improve competence in health professionals is the reason why the ACTION intervention was conducted. This paper aims to describe the development and process evaluation of an educational intervention for nurse assistants (NAs) in home care and highlights the potential of self-directed web-based learning as well as the pitfalls of conducting complex interventions in home care. Methods A web-based educational intervention focusing on person-centred communication was developed that targeted NAs in home care for older persons. Twenty-seven NAs from two units in Sweden were recruited, and 23 NAs were offered the educational intervention. Data were collected from multiple sources before, during and after the intervention and were analysed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were extracted from the web platform and analysed to determine the NAs´ engagement in the intervention. Additionally, interviews, evaluation forms and field notes were used to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention. Results The main findings suggest that web-based education seems to be an appropriate strategy in the home care context. The majority of the NAs (91%) participated in full or in part in the intervention. During the implementation process, some adaptions were required to fit the local circumstances regarding technical support, scheduling, and the design of the lectures. The NAs perceived the format to be easy to use and flexible and appreciated the stepwise modules. The content was perceived as valuable. Conclusions Our findings show that the benefits of the web-based educational intervention included the short and focused lectures as well as its accessibility. Challenges with the implementation process included gaining access to the NAs and motivating and involving the NAs. This study emphasizes the environmental support needed to successfully conduct complex interventions, including physical, organizational and cultural aspects.
Oncolytic reovirus shows potentially anticancer effect against CT26 cell lines
Authors: babaei Abouzar , Soleimanjahi Hoorieh , Arefian Ehsan 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Background: Reovirus type 3 Dearing (T3D) is a segmented double-stranded RNA that selectively replicates and triggers anticancer responses in the KRAS mutant cancer cells. Here, we examine the anticancer activity of ReoT3D against murine colon carcinoma cell line (CT26) with deferent in vitro experiments. Results: Our results showed that ReoT3D significantly induced oncolysis in the CT26 cells by induction of apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 and G2/M checkpoints and reduction of cell migration and colony forming ability. Conclusion: Present study confirmed that ReoT3D has strong anticancer impacts on CT26 cells which can be considered as a new approach against KRAS mutant cancer cell lines in laboratory investigation.
Determinación de la concentración letal media (cl50) producida por el sulfato de cobre pentahidratado en diez especies de peces dulceacuícolas bioindicadores utilizados en el Perú
Authors: Scotto Carlos , Rondón Raúl , Arriola César 
Published: December 2019

El sulfato de cobre pentahidratado (CuSO4.5H2O) es utilizado en la acuicultura como un potente alguicida y/o molusquicida; pero el uso excesivo e indiscriminado puede conllevar a tener grandes daños en los cultivos de especies acuáticas silvestres no objetivo. La presente investigación determinó un rango de dosis letal media del sulfato de cobre entre 0.16 y 1.6 mg/L para diez especies de peces continentales: Neón Tetra (Paracheirodon Innesi), Dorado (Carassius auratus), Guppy (Poecilia reticulata), Bagre ventosa (Otocinclus macrospilus), Barbo (Barbus tetrazona), Molly (Poecilia sphenops), Monjita (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi), Espada (Xiphophorus helleri), Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) y Corydora (Corydora aeneus). Para ello se realizó un ensayo preliminar de diez concentraciones seriadas por 24 horas con dos repeticiones. Seguidas de un ensayo final con cinco concentraciones seriadas a las 24, 48, 72, 96 y 120 horas de exposición. Posteriormente, se realizó el análisis con el programa Probit y se determinó que las CL50 fueron respectivamente de: 0,8mg/L,24h;1,2mg/L,96h; 0,4mg/L,96h; 1,2mg/L,48h; 0,8mg/L,48h; 0,16mg/L,24h; 0,8mg/L,24h; 0,1652mg/L,24h; 1,6mg/L,24h y 0,6mg/L,96h.
Students’ Errors in Using the Simple Present Tense at Polytechnic ATI Padang
Authors: Indriani Silvia 
Published: November 2019

The research aimed at analyzing the errors in using simple present tense at Logistics Management of Agro-Industry of Polytechnic ATI Padang. A qualitative method with descriptive approach was applied. The samples were 15% of 153 total students or 23 students. Data were collected through the writing test; namely, descriptive essay. The results show that many students commit errors in using the simple present tense. The errors are classified into four types: omission, addition, misinformation, and misordering. There are 107 errors with the highest number that is omission (61 errors or 57%). Misinformation is in second place with 29 errors (27,1%). The error of addition gains 11,2 % with 12 errors. The lowest error is misordering, which gains 4,7% with only five errors. In conclusion, the most dominant error made by the students is omission with 57% and misordering is the lowest one with 4,7%. Therefore, the lecturers are expected to improve the teaching strategies in teaching simple present tense to reduce the numbers of students’ errors.
Analisis Permasalahan Guru dan Siswa Menggunakan Pembelajaran Berbasis Masalah dengan Media LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Terhadap Hasil Belajar IPA Biologi
Authors: Faridah Faridah , Maasawet Elsje Theodora , Boleng Didimus Tanah 
Published: December 2019

<em>The function of education is to prepare students through a process that takes place before students are ready to work in real life. The strategy for implementing education is carried out in the form of guidance, teaching and training activities. In line with that national education must be able to guarantee equal opportunities for education, improvement in quality, and efficiency of education management. Improving the quality of education is directed at improving the quality of Indonesian people as a whole through cognitive, affective aspects, and psychomotor aspects. The purpose of the study was to determine the problems of teachers and students in the problem-based learning model with the use of Liquid Crystal Display Media on the results of Biology Science. The design of this study uses quasi experimental. Based on observations and interviews with Biology Science teachers that students tend to remain silent in class, pay less attention to teachers, play with their peers so that the average cognitive learning value results are 63.50%. Based on the results of interviews with students, information was obtained that the teacher had been giving a woman a monotonous method, namely lecture and lack of interaction with students so that some students felt they did not understand the material.</em>
Analyzing rural drinking water services for district planning in Maharashtra, India
Authors: Singh Ranu , Brahmankar Rahul , Murty J. V. R. , Verma Piyush , Wescoat James L. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
India has made good progress toward meeting basic standards of access to safe drinking water, but improved planning methods are needed to prioritize different levels and types of water service needs for public investment. This paper presents a planning approach for collecting, analyzing, and mapping drinking water service data at the village, block, and district levels in Pune district, Maharashtra, India. The planning approach created a mobile application for data collection by gram sevaks at the village level. It employed ranking methods developed with district officers to prioritize villages with the greatest needs, cluster analysis to distinguish different types of needs, and geographic information system (GIS) mapping to visualize the spatial distribution of those needs. This analysis shows that there are high levels of spatial heterogeneity in water services within, as well as between, blocks but also that there are broad patterns of priorities for planning and policy purposes. These priorities include water service needs in the Western Ghats, a combination of water source and service needs in dissected plateau lands, source strengthening in the eastern plains, and local hot spots in peri-urban areas. Based on this Pune district case study, the Government of Maharashtra is testing the approach in five additional districts.
Performance of a French system of vertical flow wetlands (first stage) operating with an extended feeding cycle
Authors: Trein Camila Maria , Zumalacarregui Jorge Alejandro García , de Andrade Moraes Mirene Augusta , von Sperling Marcos 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the treatment performance in the first stage of a vertical flow constructed wetland – French system (VCW-FS) over an extended feeding period (seven days), in two parallel units, for a population equivalent (p.e.) around 100 inhabitants (total of 0.6 m²·p.e.−1), under Brazilian tropical climatic conditions. One of the units had a greater surface sludge deposit layer, accumulated over nine years of operation, while the other unit had its sludge removed prior to the experiments. Four intensive monitoring campaigns covering all days of the feeding cycle were undertaken and the results were compared with those obtained from the conventional monitoring. The results indicated that, over the days of the feeding cycle, dissolved oxygen concentrations decreased, but were still kept at sufficiently high values for the removal of organic matter. Therefore, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, although not high, remained acceptable for compliance with local discharge standards during the whole the period. The NH4+-N removal efficiency and NO3−-N production were higher at the beginning of the feeding cycle, as a result of the more well-established aerobic conditions, with the nitrification rate decreasing from the third day of feeding. The sludge deposit seemed to hinder liquid percolation, especially at the end of the feeding cycle, thus affecting oxygen transfer. Due to the variability of the results over the feeding cycle, if sampling is to be done once a week, it is important to identify the sampling day that best represents the system's performance.
A exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes no contexto de grandes eventos: a Copa do Mundo no Brasil
Authors: Silva Elisangela Aparecida Machado da , Werneck Anna Flora , Chianca Thomaz Kauark , Santos Benedito Rodrigues dos 
Published: December 2019

O discurso comum entre especialistas e sociedade civil é de aumento dos registros de violações de crianças e adolescentes em contextos de grandes eventos mundiais, especialmente a exploração sexual. A metodologia proposta para a pesquisa buscou identificar evidências da exploração sexual, tomou como case a Copa do Mundo de Futebol 2014, no Brasil, e contou com a sistematização de dados secundários (2012 à 2014). Os principais resultados gerados foram a oportunidade de ter as informações dos registros organizados em única base de dados e analisados de forma a se identificar a interferência do grande eventos. Dos resultados encontrados conclui-se que – os tipos de violações registrados cotidianamente, e que ocorrem no âmbito intrafamiliar e comunitário, repetiram durante o período do grande evento, com aumento dos registros de violência sexual, com marcada invisibilidade da exploração sexual. Na perspectiva da gestão, a pesquisa produziu dados e evidências que podem auxiliar os organizadores de eventos desta natureza a definirem estratégias concretas para prevenção destas violações. Na perspectiva científica, a pesquisa consiste em referência metodológicaa para futuros estudos quanti-qualitativos, e, investigação sobre a correlação entre responsabilidade social dos destinos turísticos e a garantia de direitos das crianças e adolescentes em contexto de grandes eventos.
Palavras-chave: Brasil. Exploração Sexual. Turismo. Grandes Eventos.
Truncated Thioredoxin Peptides Serves as an Efficient Fusion Tag for Production of Proinsulin
Authors: Nataraj Nandini B. , Sukumaran Sunil Kumar , Sambasivam Ganesh , Sudhakaran Raja 
Published: December 2019

Background:
Insulin is a peptide hormone used for regulating blood glucose levels.
Human insulin market is projected to grow at a rate of 12.5% annually. To meet the needs of
patients, a cost effective insulin manufacturing strategy has to be developed. This can be achieved
by selecting a competent host, ideal fusion tag and streamlined downstream process.

Objective:
In this article, we have demonstrated that selecting a right fusion partner for expression
of toxic proteins like insulin, plays a major role in increasing the recombinant protein yield.

Methods:
In this article, we have focused on identifying a peptide tag fusion partner for expressing
proinsulin by truncating thioredoxin tag. Truncations were carried out from both Amino and
Carboxy terminus of the protein and efficiency of truncated sequences was evaluated by expressing
it with proinsulin gene. FCTRX (1-15) sequence fused to proinsulin was processed further to
establish downstream protocol for purification.

Results:
Thioredoxin tag was truncated appropriately by considering the fusion tag: protein ratio. A
couple of sequences ranging 10 – 15 amino acids were identified based on its in silico properties.
Of these FCTRX (1-15) showed increased expression and stability of fusion protein. 156 mg of
purified insulin was generated from 1g of inclusion body after enzymatic conversion and
chromatographic steps.

Conclusion:
As a result of the current study, it was concluded that FCTRX (1-15) peptide has
advantageous attributes to be considered as an ideal fusion tag for expression of proinsulin. This
can be further explored by expressing it with other proteins.
Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Sulfonamides Derived from Carvacrol: A Structure-Activity Relationship Study
Authors: de Oliveira Aldo S. , de Souza Luiz F. S. , Nunes Ricardo J. , Johann Susana , Palomino-Salcedo David L. , Ferreira Leonardo L.G. , Andricopulo Adriano D. 
Published: November 2019

Background:
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing problem in all countries and has
been discussed worldwide. In this sense, the development of new drugs with antibiotic properties is
highly desirable in the context of medicinal chemistry.

Methodology:
In this paper we investigate the antioxidant and antibacterial potential of sulfonamides
derived from carvacrol, a small molecule with drug-like properties. Most sulfonamides had antioxidant
and antibacterial potential, especially compound S-6, derived from beta-naphthylamine.

Result:
To understand the possible mechanisms of action involved in biological activity, the experimental
results were compared with molecular docking data.

Conclusion:
This research allows appropriate discussion on the identified structure activity relationships.
Study on an improved-adaptive-weighted mean filtering method for metallographic image processing
Authors: Tang Hongtao 
Published: December 2019

Background:
Because the noise will bring great error to the analysis of metallographic images an adaptive weighted mean filtering method is proposed to overcome the shortcomings of the standard mean filtering method.

Methods:
The method is to detect the pulse noise points in the image, and then use the modified mean method to filter out the noise points that are detected. Patents on metallographic image processing have been also discussed for the development of the proposed methodology.

Results:
It is shown that that filter window can be filtered in comparison with the conventional 3x3, 5x5 and 7x 7 filt window to reduce the noise detection and reduce the complexity of the weight calculation.

Conclusion:
At the same time, it can better protect the details of the image, has better filtering effect than the standard mean filtering, and its processing speed is faster than the median filtering of the large window, which has profound significance for the edge detection and processing of the metallographic image.