bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Passenger Satisfaction with the Quality of Service Offered at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)
Authors: Dambagolla D. G. E. K. P. K. , Sumanasiri E. A. G. 
Published: June 2020

Aim: Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is important in the development of the Sri Lankan economy. To remain competitive in the service sector it is essential to focus more on improving service quality as it directly creates greater customer satisfaction. In respect of international airports satisfied passengers often revisit a destination thus increasing micro and macro level income and profitability. Hence, satisfied and loyal passengers are an important factor in remaining competitive among international airports. Although there is ample research that explores service quality and passenger satisfaction with airports, research is sparse in regard to Sri Lanka. Hence, the aim of this study is to identify the most important service quality dimensions influencing passenger satisfaction at BIA and to examine the relationship between each SERVQUAL dimension on passenger satisfaction.
Place and Duration of Study: Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) between April to July 2019.
Methodology: The sample for this study consisted of 150 passengers at BIA and a five-point Likert scale questionnaire was developed for this study based on the SERVQUAL model to analyse the impact of the five dimensions (reliability responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangibility) of service quality at BIA. A quantitative approach was used and questionnaires were distributed by hand as well as by electronically using Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber and Email. The data was analysed using SPSS Version 23.0.
Results: The regression model confirmed that tangibility, assurance and empathy contributed to passenger satisfaction. The findings of this study could be used by passengers, researchers, service providers, civil aviation authorities and other decision makers for their decision-making purposes.
Livelihood Status of the People Living in Unified Enclaves (Chitmahal) of Bangladesh
Authors: Zakaria A. K. M. , Mamun M. A. , Majid M. A. , Sultana R. 
Published: June 2020

The study was under take to determine and describe the general characteristic of respondents, to explore present livelihood status of unified enclaves people and to identify problems faced by them. The study was conducted at different unified enclaves’ areas of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Panchagarh and Nilphamari district during December 2016-June 2017. A total 200 respondents were randomly selected from unified enclave areas for the study 50 from each district. Thirty two percent residents live in straw and mud wall houses and side walls are developed either by tin or by bamboo or other low cost materials and poor families (29%) have walls made by jute sticks. Agriculture is the main source of livelihoods in these areas (80%) including agricultural day labour. Non-farm activities (20%) are mainly limited to shop keeping or trading, rickshaw van pulling. No formal educational institute sponsored by government or private sector was found in unified enclave areas but recently people in enclave areas have built new structures with signboard on their lands by own finances with the hope that their relatives and peers will get jobs if the government approves the scheme. There is no community clinic or primary healthcare facility in the unified enclave areas. Majority of the respondents (76%) take treatment from village doctor and Kobiraj followed by upazilla health care centre (13%) and 5% from community clinic. Ninety two percent birth deliveries had been attended by relatives or midwives at home. Nearly 92% girls were married before age of 18 years. The study reveals that 88% respondents were suffering from dowry but there is no eve-teasing in the unified enclaves due to their strong family and social bondage. Insufficient irrigation facilities and quality agricultural inputs, lack of training and lack of marketing facilities of agricultural products is the major problems of their livelihoods. Insufficient support and lack of training in agriculture, livestock and fisheries, lack of healthcare centre, educational institution, poor road transportation facilities, and insufficient loan facilities of agriculture is the major problems of unified enclaves. To improve the condition of lives of people in unified enclaves, need to ensure quality agricultural inputs and irrigation facilities, agricultural product marketing facilities, training on modern farming and agricultural credits with lower interest rate. Group based or community based fish, poultry or cattle farming might be beneficial for landless people. Low cost capital is needed to establish micro or small business enterprise. To improve the condition of lives of people in unified enclaves, different government agencies have taken various initiatives. But government programmes will not be enough to meet various needs of people of unified enclaves. Intervention from private sector would address various development needs there.
Comparative Study on the Antidiabetic Efficacy of Unripe and Ripe Fruit Extracts of Siraitia grosvenorii and the Possible Mechanism of Action
Authors: Xu Xiangli , Lu Fenglai , Yang Ziming , Yan Xiaojie , Akunne Theophine , Li Dianpeng 
Published: June 2020

Aims: The ripe fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey (Cucurbitaceae) is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treatment of diabetes. The ripe fruit is very edible, nutritious and of high sweet taste, while the unripe fruit which is usually very bitter and not edible, has not been widely studied. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of the unripe fruit of S. grosvenorii and to compare it with that of the ripe fruit as well as to determine their possible mechanism of action.
Methodology: The method of streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic animal model in mice was employed and mice with blood glucose greater than 9.0 mmol/l were selected for treatment with unripe fruit extract (UFE) and ripe fruit extract (RFE) for 24 days. Alpha-glucosidase and alpha amylase enzymes inhibitory assays for determination of possible mechanism of action, were performed.
Results: The RFE exhibited better efficacy in antidiabetic activity than the UFE, though the later displayed better potency in activity. The RFE, UFE (300 mg/kg) and glibenclamide exhibited significant (P<0.05) percentage blood glucose reduction (PBGR) of 67.04, 60.69 and 62.88%, respectively, in diabetic mice. Alpha glucosidase assay showed median inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 7.60 and 6.62 mg/ml for RFE and UFE, respectively, while the alpha amylase inhibitory assay exhibited percentage inhibition of 84.78 and 95.10% for RFE and UFE (25 mg/ml), respectively.
Conclusion: The ripe and unripe extracts of S. grosvenorii exhibited antidiabetic activities, and RFE proved a better efficacious activity than UFE, which showed more potent activity. In addition, the antidiabetic activity is likely being mediated through alpha glucosidase and alpha amylase enzymes inhibition.
Evaluation of Anti-oxidant Enzymes, Lipid Peroxidation, Lipid Profile and Liver Function in Albino Rats Orally Administered Tartrazine
Authors: Adele Uyota Anthony , Iroh Geraldine , Briggs Ojoye Ngoye , Waribo Helen Anthony , Elekima Ibioku 
Published: June 2020

Aim: To evaluate the anti-oxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile and liver function in albino rats orally administered tartrazine.
Study Design: A total number of 63 female albino rats weighing approximately 0.2 kg were used for this study. The study was divided into two phases, phase 1 which lasted for the first 30 days, comprised of 35 rats, 20 rats were used as test group while 15 rats served as the control group. Phase 2 of the study was for 60 days and 28 rats were used with 16 as test group and 12 as the control. The test groups were orally administered with 7.5 mg/kg of tartrazine (ADI) daily over the specified periods while the control groups were not treated with tartrazine but given only food and water.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria within a period of 12 months (Feb., 2019 – Jan., 2020).
Methodology: At the end of the study, 5 mls of whole blood specimens was collected by means of cardiac puncture into plain bottles. To obtain the serum, the whole blood samples were allowed to clot and later dislodged and spun at 3500 rpm for 10 minutes. The collected serum specimens were used to analyze SOD, MDA, GPX, ALT, GGT, ALP, TG, TCHOL, and HDL-C, while LDL-C was calculated using Friedwald equation.
Results: The chronic treatment of rats with tartrazine azo food dye at the ADI dose caused an increase in MDA levels after 30 and 60 days test rats compared to the control, while TCHOL and HDL-C showed significant decrease after 30 and 60 days of treatment in the test group compared to the control group. In addition, ALT indicated significant increase in test group after 60 days of treatment compared to control group. ALP, GGT, TG, LDL-C, SOD and GPX showed no significant difference after 30, and 60 days of treatment at ADI doses. Histologic examination of the liver indicated hydropic dilation, degenerating hepatocyes and infiltration of central vein with parenchymal materials alongside kupffer cells.
Conclusion: The results from this study revealed that orally administered tartrazine at the recommended ADI dose increased lipid peroxidation as seen in the elevated MDA levels. Hepatic derangements were also seen as revealed by increased ALT and histologic distortions as well fall in TCHOL and HDL-C lipid fractions.
Workplace responses to COVID-19 associated with mental health and work performance of employees in Japan
Authors: Sasaki Natsu , Kuroda Reiko , Tsuno Kanami , Kawakami Norito 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Objectives
The study investigated the links between workplace measures implemented in response to COVID-19 with mental health and work performance of employees in Japan.

Methods
This was a cross-sectional study of a sample from a cohort study of full-time employees. Participants (n = 1448) completed an online self-report questionnaire on March 19-22, 2020. Multiple linear regression was conducted to ascertain their fear of and worry associated with COVID-19, psychological distress, and work performance.

Results
The number of workplace measures correlated positively with respondents’ fear of and worry associated with COVID-19 (adjusted standardized β = 0.123, P &lt; .001), negatively with psychological distress and positively with work performance (adjusted standardized β = −0.068, P = .032; adjusted standardized β = 0.101, P = .002; respectively).

Conclusions
Workplace measures may promote and maintain the mental health and work performance of employees during the COVID-19 epidemic. The positive association between the number of measures and fear and worry about COVID-19 may reflect increased awareness about COVID-19 among employees resulted from taking the measures.
A recurrent PJA1 variant in trigonocephaly and neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Suzuki Toshimitsu , Suzuki Toshifumi , Raveau Matthieu , Miyake Noriko , Sudo Genki , Tsurusaki Yoshinori , Watanabe Takaki , Sugaya Yuki , Tatsukawa Tetsuya , Mazaki Emi , Shimohata Atsushi , Kushima Itaru , Aleksic Branko , Shiino Tomoko , Toyota Tomoko , Iwayama Yoshimi , Nakaoka Kentaro , Ohmori Iori , Sasaki Aya , Watanabe Ken , Hirose Shinichi , Kaneko Sunao , Inoue Yushi , Yoshikawa Takeo , Ozaki Norio , Kano Masanobu , Shimoji Takeyoshi , Matsumoto Naomichi , Yamakawa Kazuhiro 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectiveNeurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) often associate with epilepsy or craniofacial malformations. Recent large‐scale DNA analyses identified hundreds of candidate genes for NDDs, but a large portion of the cases still remain unexplained. We aimed to identify novel candidate genes for NDDs.MethodsWe performed exome sequencing of 95 patients with NDDs including 51 with trigonocephaly and subsequent targeted sequencing of additional 463 NDD patients, functional analyses of variant in vitro, and evaluations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)‐like phenotypes and seizure‐related phenotypes in vivo.ResultsWe identified de novo truncation variants in nine novel genes; CYP1A1, C14orf119, FLI1, CYB5R4, SEL1L2, RAB11FIP2, ZMYND8, ZNF143, and MSX2. MSX2 variants have been described in patients with cranial malformations, and our present patient with the MSX2 de novo truncation variant showed cranial meningocele and partial epilepsy. MSX2 protein is known to be ubiquitinated by an E3 ubiquitin ligase PJA1, and interestingly we found a PJA1 hemizygous p.Arg376Cys variant recurrently in seven Japanese NDD patients; five with trigonocephaly and one with partial epilepsy, and the variant was absent in 886 Japanese control individuals. Pja1 knock‐in mice carrying p.Arg365Cys, which is equivalent to p.Arg376Cys in human, showed a significant decrease in PJA1 protein amount, suggesting a loss‐of‐function effect of the variant. Pja1 knockout mice displayed moderate deficits in isolation‐induced ultrasonic vocalizations and increased seizure susceptibility to pentylenetetrazole.InterpretationThese findings propose novel candidate genes including PJA1 and MSX2 for NDDs associated with craniofacial abnormalities and/or epilepsy.
Bioprinting Tissue Analogues with Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Bioink for Regeneration and Tissue Models of Cartilage and Intervertebral Discs
Authors: Vernengo Andrea J. , Grad Sibylle , Eglin David , Alini Mauro , Li Zhen 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe recent convergence of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) methodologies and 3D bioprinting (3DBP) has led to multiple advancements in tissue engineering scaffold design by enabling researchers to recreate a tissue‐specific 3D environment in a custom geometry. The application of 3DBP of dECM for articular cartilage and intervertebral disc (IVD) repair, however, is still burgeoning. While cartilage and IVD tissue each possess unique architectures, they are composed of similar macromolecules and therefore pose similar challenges for the successful application of their matrix bioinks. Herein, the state‐of‐the‐art in cartilage and IVD dECM bioink preparation, material properties, and applications are highlighted. The current major obstacles regarding optimal decellularization and printing methods are discussed, which need to be overcome to enable recapitulation of the hierarchical organization, zone‐specific matrix composition, and anisotropic biomechanical behavior of the native tissues. Finally, a vision is presented for how this field may continue to evolve in the future to empower the fabrication of scaffolds that serve as effective templates for guiding cellular assembly and organization toward the formation of functional cartilage and IVD tissues.
Chirality of Liquid Crystals Formed from Achiral Molecules Revealed by Resonant X‐Ray Scattering
Authors: Lewandowski Wiktor , Vaupotič Nataša , Pociecha Damian , Górecka Ewa , Liz‐Marzán Luis M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntensive research on chiral liquid crystals (LCs) has been fueled by their actively tunable physicochemical properties and structural complexity, comparable to those of sophisticated natural materials. Herein, recent progress in the discovery of new classes of chiral LCs, enabled by a combination of nano‐ and macroscale investigations is reviewed. First, an overview is provided of liquid crystalline phases, made of chiral and achiral low‐weight molecules, that exhibit chiral structure and/or chiral morphology. Then, recent progress in the discovery of new classes of chiral LCs, particularly enabled by the application of resonant X‐ray scattering is described. It is shown that the method is sensitive to modulations of molecular orientation and therefore provides information hardly accessible by means of other techniques, such as the sense of helical structures or chirality transfer across length scales. Finally, a perspective is presented on the future scope, opportunities, and challenges in the field of chiral LCs, in particular related to nanocomposites.
Direct Conversion of Rice Husks to Nanostructured SiC/C for CO2 Photoreduction
Authors: Weng Wei , Wang Sibo , Xiao Wei , Lou Xiong Wen (David) 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA one‐step and template‐free synthesis of a SiC nanowires/C (SiC‐NW/C) composite from rice husks (RHs) is realized via a molten‐salt‐assisted electrochemical method. The process integrates simultaneously carbonization, electrodeoxidation, nanostructuring, and self‐purification for converting RHs to a SiC‐NW/C hybrid that is assembled from SiC NWs embedded in porous N‐doped graphitic carbon with strong coupling. The SiC‐NW/C nanostructure enables efficient CO2 adsorption and fast separation and transfer of charge carriers. Benefiting from the structural and compositional merits, the SiC‐NW/C composite shows superior activity for photoreduction of CO2 to CO, in the absence of any additional cocatalysts or sacrificial agents. The process proposed herein might help to bridge a closed‐loop carbon cycle in the whole production–utilization of biomass.
In Vivo Enrichment and Elimination of Circulating Tumor Cells by Using a Black Phosphorus and Antibody Functionalized Intravenous Catheter
Authors: Wang Dou , Ge Chenchen , Liang Weiyuan , Yang Qinhe , Liu Quan , Ma Wei , Shi Lulin , Wu Hong , Zhang Yuhua , Wu Zongze , Wei Chaoying , Huang Luodan , Fang Zhiyuan , Liu Liping , Bao Shiyun , Zhang Han 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe circulating tumor cell (CTC) count is closely related to cancer recurrence and metastasis. The technology that can in vivo destroy CTCs may bring great benefits to patients, which is an urgent clinical demand. Here, a minimally invasive therapeutic intravenous catheter for in vivo enriching and photothermal killing of CTCs is developed. The surface of catheter is modified with anti‐EpCAM antibody and the interior is filled with black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs). CTCs in the peripheral blood are captured by the catheter continually with the aid of circulation. The captured CTCs are used for downstream analyses or in vivo eliminated by the near‐infrared (NIR) photothermal effect of BPNSs. A capture efficiency of 2.1% is obtained during the 5 min of treatment, and 100% of the captured CTCs are killed by following NIR light irradiation in both an in vitro closed‐loop circulation system and an in vivo rabbit model. This cost‐effective modality for lowering the CTCs burden can be a good supplement to traditional therapies, which holds great promise as an effective clinical intervention for cancer patients.
Multiple Stimuli Responsive and Identifiable Zwitterionic Ionic Conductive Hydrogel for Bionic Electronic Skin
Authors: Huang Hailong , Han Lu , Fu Xiaobin , Wang Yanling , Yang Zhongli , Pan Likun , Xu Min 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBionic electronic skin (E‐skin) is considered to be the best candidate for health monitoring sensor, soft robots, biomedical prostheses, artificial intelligence, and wearable electronics devices. However, most existing studies on bionic E‐skin mainly focus on their strain–stress response. Although some works involved specific response to physiological signals such as temperature, sweat, wet, and so on, most reported E‐skins lack special ability to identify multiple stimuli, which limits their applications in real working environment. In this work, an intelligent zwitterionic ionic conductive hydrogel with double network structure (SAA: NaCl/sodium alginate/poly acrylic‐acrylamide) for bionic E‐skin is developed. The SAA hydrogel as E‐skin not only exhibits high sensitivity to strain–stress, but also demonstrates superior sensing performance in human body motion and physiological signal response. More importantly, the SAA hydrogel possesses excellent identification ability to the superposed signals of multiple stimuli. The type of stimulus can be readily distinguished via electrical signal waveform. The SAA hydrogel should be promisingly applied as multiple stimuli responsive and identifiable bionic E‐skin for sports monitoring, human/machine interfaces, and soft robotics.
Electronic Performance of Polymer Carbon‐Paste Nanoallotropes from 0D to 3D as Novel Gate Electrodes in Water‐Gated Organic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Tamayo Adrián , Muñoz Jose , Mas‐Torrent Marta 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWater‐gated organic field‐effect transistors (WGOFETs) are expected to have a strong impact in the field of electronic biosensors owing to the synergism between the transduction function of the transistors with the fact that they can be operated in physiological media. Nonetheless, a limited library of gate electrodes has currently been explored for this aim. Herein, different polymer nanocomposite carbon paste gate electrodes (NC‐CPgEs) are successfully exploited for the first time as unusual nonmetal gate electrodes in WGOFET devices employing four types of carbon nanoallotropes with dimensionality ranging from 0D to 3D (i.e., carbon nanohorns, carbon nanotubes, reduced graphene oxide, and graphite, respectively). Interestingly, after an accurate electrochemical and electrical characterization, it is demonstrated that the WGOFETs with the developed NC‐CPgEs reveal excellent behaviors comparable to that achieved with conventional gate electrodes, such as gold or glassy carbon electrodes. Further, depending on the carbon nature the device performance can be tuned, being the devices based on reduced graphene oxide the ones showing a better electrical response. Accordingly, this work can pave the way for widespread applications of NC‐CPgEs for the development of a new generation of WGOFET devices based on carbon nanostructures.
Achieving Balanced Crystallization Kinetics of Donor and Acceptor by Sequential‐Blade Coated Double Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Yilin , Wang Xiaohui , Lin Baojun , Bi Zhaozhao , Zhou Xiaobo , Naveed Hafiz Bilal , Zhou Ke , Yan Hongping , Tang Zheng , Ma Wei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSequential deposition has great potential to achieve high performance in organic solar cells due to the resulting well‐controlled vertical phase separation. In this work, double bulk heterojunction organic solar cells are fabricated by sequential‐blade cast in ambient conditions. Probed by the in situ grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction and in situ UV–vis absorption measurements, the seq‐blade system exhibits a different tendency from each of the binary films during the film formation process. Due to the extensive aggregation of FOIC, the binary PBDB‐T:FOIC film displays a strong and large phase separation, resulting in low current density (Jsc) and unsatisfactory power conversion efficiency. In the seq‐blade cast system, the bottom layer PBDB‐T:IT‐M produces many crystal nuclei for the top layer PBDB‐T:FOIC, so the PBDB‐T molecules are able to crystallize easily and quickly. Balanced crystallization kinetics between polymer and small molecule and an ideal percolation network in the film are observed. In addition, the balanced crystallization kinetics are favorable toward realizing lower recombination loss through charge transport processes.