bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Domestic End-users’ Participation in Managing Urban Water Supply in Emerging Cities: Evidence from Wa, Ghana
Authors: Laminu Moshie-Dayan , Ahadzie Divine K. , Okrah Maxwell 
Published: May 2021

Domestic end-users’ participation in urban water management is essential to achieving improved water delivery system that meet the needs of all urban dwellers in Ghana. This paper examined how domestic end-users can effectively participate in managing urban water in Wa. The study used semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews with a sample of 379 households and two staff from Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC). Kendall’s coefficient of concordance analysis and content analysis were the analytical techniques employed. It found that households’ level of participationin urban water management was 14%. Results of the Kendall’s analysis showed a coefficient of 0.59, which indicates that there is a high agreement level among households that the low level of participation is attributed to GWCL’s lack of trust in end-users’ capacity to make meaningful inputs. It identifies formation of urban zonal water management committees, communication and information sharing, operational transparency and assigning specific roles to end-users as some of the strategies for improving participation in urban water management. These findings have implications for the realisation of the Ghana National Water Policy objective of participatory decision-making in urban water management. It is important that GWCL streamlines its operations and sensitise end-users on its operations
Keywords: End-users, Participation, Urban Water, Management, Challenges
Piper guineense: A potent ethnobotanical preservative against Dermestes maculatus in smoke-dried African catfish, Clarias gariepinus
Authors: Olajumoke Omosowone 
Published: May 2021

Piper guineense fruits were purchased, sun-dried (30±2oC) for 10 days and ground into fine powder. Fifteen (15) pieces of Clarias gariepinus (300 ± 5.0 g) were procured and smoke-dried in the laboratory using a charcoal-powered smoking kiln at 65oC for 10 hours. Each smoke-dried fish sample was placed in a plastic container with perforated lids covered with muslin cloth and Piper guineense fruit meal was sprinkled at varying quantities (0.0 g, 2.5 g, 5.0 g, 7.5 g and 10.0 g). Ten (10) adults of Dermestes maculatus bred from highly infested smoke-dried fish samples were introduced into each container and covered air-tight for seven (7) days. Mortality of D. maculatus was significantly different (p = .05) in all treatments and increased with an increase in the quantity of P. guineense and number of days. Mortality ranged between 73.33 and 100 % in treated groups while none was recorded in the control. Chemical compositions in treatments showed an increase in crude protein, lipids and lower moisture content at higher inclusion levels. This study showed that P. guineense can prolong the shelf-life of smoke-dried C. gariepinus against D. maculatus while retaining its nutritional composition.
Key words: Dermestes maculatus, Piper guineense, smoke-dried, Clarias gariepinus
Optimized production of tannase and gallic acid from fruit seeds by solid state fermentation
Authors: Arshad Rida , Mohyuddin Ayesha , Saeed Shagufta , Hassan Abrar Ul 
Published: May 2021

Purpose: To investigate the possibility for gallic acid production from different tannin-rich fruit seeds using Aspergillus oryzae via solid-state fermentation.
Methods: Fruit seeds of apple, guava, tamarind, black plum and watermelon were analyzed to estimate the synthesis of an enzyme tannase and its product gallic acid. Various physicochemical parameters were optimized to increase the gallic acid yield. Gallic acid was extracted by Soxhlet apparatus and identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was quantitatively determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Results: Amongst the various substrates tested, black plum seeds gave the highest activity of 34.40 U/g for tannase and 16.66 mg/g for gallic acid under optimized physicochemical conditions, i.e., 1:3 substrate: moisture ratio, 30 °C, 96 h incubation period and pH 5.5. Addition of carbon source had a negative effect on production while ammonium sulphate (0.2 %) as nitrogen source increased the yield of both products. The gallic acid produced was 98.5 % pure, compared to the standard.
Conclusion: Production of tannase and gallic acid via solid-state fermentation conditions has been optimized in vitro. The optimized conditions can be utilized on a commercial scale for economically viable production of gallic acid.
Waktu Tempuh Perjalanan Penduduk Perumahan Puri Yuhana Permai dan Bukit Khatulstiwa
Authors: Minanga Gideon  Irianto , Rachman Rais , Palinggi Monika D.M 
Published: May 2021

Fenomena yang terjadi di Kota Makassar dalam permasalahan waktu tempuh adalah lebih banyak pengguna kendaraan pribdadi dibandingkn dengan pengguna jasa angkutan umum. Pertumbuhan ekonomi di Kota Makassar yang sangat pesat berpengaruh pada daya beli masyarakat dan meningkatkan jumlah kepemilikan kendaraan bermotor. Konsekuensinya perjaanan menjadi lebih Panjang dan waktu tempuh yang dibutuhkan menjadi lebih lama dan lebih Panjang dari penggunaan kendaraan pribadi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi variabel-variabel bebas yang mempengaruhi waktu tempuh pekerja yang berdomisili di Perumahan Puri Yuhana Permai dan Bukit Khatulisiwa untuk sampai ke tempat kerja, dan memodelkan waktu tempuh berdasarkan variabel bebas yang signifikan terhadap waktu tempuh pekerja tersebutmenggunakan metode regresi linear berganda SPSS 22.0. Hasil Penelitian pada masing-masing perumahan menunjukkan bahwa variabel yang berpengaruh signifikan terhadap waktu tempuh perumahan Puri Yuhana Permai adalah moda (X3) dan adalah jarak tempuh (X4), dan Bukit Khtulisiwa adalah jarak tempuh (X4). Serta diketahui bahwa dominasi urutan waktu tempuh perumahan puri yuhana permai (15-30 Menit) 47,3%, (30-45 Menit) 32,7%, (<15 Menit) 10,9%, (60 Menit) 9,1%. Sedangkan untuk Perumahan Bukit Khatulistiwa (15-30 Menit) 37,3%, (30-45 Menit) 28%, (<15 Menit) 18,7%, (60 Menit) atau 16%.
Development and Quality Evaluation of Ready to Serve Olive and Mandarin Blended Diet Drink
Authors: Rehman Atta Ur , Qazi Ihsan Mahbood , Khan Arsalan , Shah Falak Naz , Shinwari Abid Shah , Zeb Qamar , Kaleem Muhammad 
Published: May 2021

Olive (Olea europaea L.) and mandarin (Citrus reticulatae) have been used therapeutically for their nutraceutical and medicinal value. Olive juice contains high vitamin E and phenolic compounds. Similarly, mandarin is a rich source of vitamin C. Hence olive juice was blended with mandarin fruit juice for increasing the therapeutic, nutritional and functional value of Ready-to-Serve (RTS) beverages. Preliminary study revealed that Ready-to-Serve (RTS) product of olive mandarin (60:40) was highly acceptable on sensory basis by the panel of judges. Olive juice and mandarin juice were utilized at various combinations with sugar and artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose and cyclamate) for preparation of therapeutic RTS beverages and evaluated for physico-chemical and sensory attributes during storage. The study revealed that the therapeutic RTS beverages prepared by blending of olive and mandarin juices with cyclamate has scored maximum for almost all sensorial quality attributes such as appearance, colour, flavour, taste and overall acceptability and also contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids and ascorbic acid in large quantity. A reducing trend was observed in ascorbic acid and increasing trend was observed in acidity content during the storage of beverage at room temperature over a period of 90 days. The beverage changed significantly with respect to TSS content along the storage period.
Tyumen region cultural heritage potential: official assessments and real situation
Authors: Klimenko A. , Shulgin P. 
Published: May 2021

The huge layer of unrevealed cultural heritage in the Tyumen region is considered. Tyumen region hosts about two thousand monuments of history and culture, included in the united federal register, and about 1300 more identified objects of cultural heritage. However, the identification of historical and cultural monuments is far from complete. Detailed field expeditionary studies, conducted in all districts of the region during 2017–2020, made it possible to identify about a thousand more historical monuments with signs of cultural heritage.Examples of objects of traditional rural wooden architecture (both residential estates and outbuildings), decoration of rural wooden houses, stone construction in the village (retail shops, residential merchant houses) are given. The preserved historical layout of rural settlements has been regarded as a special kind of heritage objects. Examples of industrial architecture in rural settlements, architecture of railway stations and station complexes are shown. Several dozens of rural settlements can be distinguished on the territory of the region, where, according to official figures, there are either no cultural heritage objects at all, or there are 1–2 objects, but in fact there are up to 15–20 interesting architectural structures, the historical layout and cultural landscape are preserved. These settlements may become real reference points of the future cultural framework of the region, a good basis for attracting tourists and excursionists.
Perspective museum and landscape projects for use of cultural heritage objects in Tyumen region rural territories
Authors: Fedorov А. , Varankina A. 
Published: May 2021

The article presents results of study of the Tyumen region south cultural framework, capable of determining and systemically building the tourist potential of the territory. Within the strategic project of the Tyumen Industrial University "Architectural Image of the Region" by the department "Architectural Environment Design" of the Institute of Architecture and Design, based on the studies conducted, conceptual projects were completed to form the infrastructure and design the historical and cultural framework of the Tyumen region.
Rural Agriculture Work Experience Programme in Agriculture College: A Study in Tarai Region of Uttarakhand
Authors: Sharma Arpita 
Published: May 2021

Agricultural education is evolving in a very rapid manner to meet the needs of the society. RAWE (Rural Agriculture Work Experience) was introduced in the Agricultural Universities mainly to bring overall improvement in quality of life of rural families. This programme is offered in final year of the B.Sc. (Agri) degree programme which includes training, demonstration, observation, practice and participation in purposeful activities and to orient agricultural graduates for participation in various rural developmental programme.
This pioneer study about RAWE was undertaken to study the perception of RAWE programme by the students and to know the constraints of students for effective conduct of RAWE. The data was collected from 40 students of College of Agriculture, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar by using semi-structured interview schedule.
The findings revealed that majority of the students belonged to urban background. More than half per cent of students had parents with Intermediate level followed by Graduate level and Post Graduate level. Some of the students belong to families with annual income of over 2 lakh/annum (high category). At GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, majority had medium OGPA. Cent Per cent students were using mobile phone followed by television. A great majority of students read newspaper followed by magazine. It can be observed that majority of the students were fully agreed that RAWE programme had helped them to get familiar with rural people followed by RAWE had helped them to understand village situations. The Perception of the students regarding extent of achievement of RAWE is to understand rural institutions, socio economic conditions of farmers, adoption patterns and adoption gaps, farmers’ problems, farming systems and farming, improvement in diagnostic skills, provided practical training in crop production, improved communication skills, improved leadership qualities, provided opportunity to work with various Agri based institutions, developed confidence and professional competence to solve field problems. The suggestions for improvement of RAWE by students are the Time for each module in RAWE to be increased, stipend should be increased, University should increase its credibility and accessibility among farmers.
Correlation and Calibration of 4D Seismic Vintages for Effective Postproduction Intervention
Authors: Ojo B. T. , Olowokere M. T. , Oladapo M. I. 
Published: May 2021

Poor or low data quality usually has an adverse effect on the quantitative usage of (4D) seismic data for accurate analysis. Repeatability of 4D Seismic or time-lapse survey is considered as a vital tool for effective, potent, and impressive monitoring of productivity of reservoirs. Inconsistencies and disagreement of ‘time-lapse’ data will greatly affect the accuracy and outcome of research when comparing two or more seismic surveys having low repeatability. Correlation is a statistic procedure that measures the linear relation between all points of two variables. Error due to acquisition and processing must be checked for before interpretation in order to minimize exploration failure and the number of dry holes drilled. The seismic data available for this study comprises of 779 crosslines and 494 inlines. The 4D seismic data consisting of the base Seismic shot in 1998 before production and the monitor Seismic shot in 2010 at different stages of hydrocarbon production were cross correlated to ascertain repeatability between the two vintages. A global average matching process was applied while phase and time shift were estimated using the Russell-Liang technique. Two pass full shaping filters were applied for the phase matching. Maximum and minimum ‘cross-correlation’ are 0.85 (85%) and 0.60 (60%) respectively. Statistics of the ‘cross-correlation’ shift show standard deviation (0.3), variance (0.12), and root mean square (0.78). For high percentage repeatability and maximum correlations, the requested correlation threshold is 0.7 but 1 and 0.99 were obtained for the first and the second matching respectively. Conclusively, the overall results show that there is high repeatability between the 4D seismic data used and the data can be employed conveniently for accurate ‘time-lapse’ (future) production monitoring and investigation on the field.
Expression and cell transformation activity of dynactin‐associated protein isoforms
Authors: Yin Xiaobo , Yamada Shota , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Tanaka Ryota , Togo Yuki , Hosoi Miho , Tsuchida Mie , Kunoh Tatsuki , Wada Shuichi , Nakamura Toshinobu , Sasaki Ryuzo , Mizukami Tamio , Hasegawa Makoto 
Published: May 2021

Overexpression of human dynactin‐associated protein isoform a (dynAPa) transforms NIH3T3 cells. DynAPa is a single‐pass transmembrane protein with a carboxy‐terminal region exposed to the outside of cells. According to the NCBI RefSeq database, there may be two other splicing variants of the encoding gene (dynAPb and c). DynAPa and c differ in some amino‐terminal residues (NH2‐MVA in dynAPa and NH2‐MEYQLL in dynAPc). DynAPb has the same amino‐terminal residues as dynAPc, but lacks 55 residues in the intracellular region. All three isoforms have the same carboxy‐terminal region, including the transmembrane domain. Expression of mRNAs of three splicing variants was found in human cancer cell lines ACHN and Caki‐1. The subcellular localization and in vitro cell transformation ability of the three isoforms were examined using NIH3T3 cells overexpressing each respective isoform. All isoforms were found to be localized to the Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane, where the carboxy‐terminal region was exposed to the outside of cells. Cell transformation was tested using focus formation due to loss of contact inhibition of cell proliferation, and colony formation was examined on soft agar and spheroid formation in ultralow U‐bottomed wells. DynAPa robustly formed foci and colonies on soft agar and spheroid, whereas these abilities were considerably decreased for dynAPb and completely lost in dynAPc. These findings warrant dissection studies to identify the dynAP domain that is required for cell transformation.
Evaluation of a commercial synthetic computed tomography generation solution for magnetic resonance imaging‐only radiotherapy
Authors: Gonzalez‐Moya A. , Dufreneix S. , Ouyessad N. , Guillerminet C. , Autret D. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the Siemens solution generating Synthetic computed tomography (sCT) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐only radiotherapy (RT).MethodA retrospective study was conducted on 47 patients treated with external beam RT for brain or prostate cancer who underwent both MRI and CT for treatment planning. sCT images were generated from MRI using automatic bulk densities segmentation. The geometric accuracy of the sCT was assessed by comparing the Hounsfield Units (HU) difference between sCT and CT for bone structures, soft‐tissue, and full body contour. VMAT plans were computed on the CT for treatment preparation and then copied and recalculated with the same monitor units on the sCT using the AcurosXB algorithm. A 1%‐1mm gamma analysis was performed and DVH metrics for the Planning Target Volume (PTV) like the Dmean and the D98% were compared. In addition, we evaluate the usability of sCT for daily position verification with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for 14 prostate patients by comparing sCT/CBCT registration results to CT/CBCT.ResultsMean HU differences were small except for the skull (207 HU) and right femoral head of four patients where significant aberrations were found. The mean gamma pass rate was 73.2% for the brain and 84.7% for the prostate and Dmean were smaller than 0.5%. Large differences for the D98% of the prostate group could be correlated to low Dice index of the PTV. The mean difference of translations and rotations were inferior to 3.5 mm and 0.2° in all directions with a major difference in the anterior‐posterior direction.ConclusionThe performances of the software were shown to be similar to other sCT generation algorithms in terms of HU difference, dose comparison and daily image localization.
Long‐term efficacy of eculizumab in refractory generalized myasthenia gravis: responder analyses
Authors: Howard James F. , Karam Chafic , Yountz Marcus , O’Brien Fanny L. , Mozaffar Tahseen ,   for the REGAIN Study Group
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectiveGeneralized myasthenia gravis (gMG) is an autoimmune disease that causes disabling weakness via damage to the neuromuscular junction. In most patients, the disease is mediated by autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor, which activate the complement cascade. Our objective was to analyze response profiles in adult patients with anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive refractory gMG treated with eculizumab—a terminal complement inhibitor—in the REGAIN study or its open‐label extension (OLE).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed Myasthenia Gravis‐Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scores recorded during REGAIN and its OLE. Early/late responses were defined as improvement in MG‐ADL score (≥3 points) or QMG score (≥5 points) at ≤12 or >12 weeks, respectively, after eculizumab initiation.ResultsThe analysis included 98 patients. By Week 12 and conclusion of the OLE, MG‐ADL response had been achieved at some point by 67.3% and 84.7% of patients, respectively, and QMG response by 56.1% and 71.4%, respectively. Response was observed over multiple consecutive assessments for most patients. At Week 130, the least‐squares mean percentage changes (95% CI) from baseline in MG‐ADL score were −61.9% (−69.9%, −53.9%) and −47.5% (−59.0%, −36.0%) in early and late MG‐ADL responders, respectively; the least‐squares mean percentage changes from baseline in QMG score were −40.8% (−48.3%, −33.4%) and −55.5% (−68.4%, −42.7%) in early and late QMG responders, respectively.InterpretationThe findings suggest that, although most patients with refractory gMG will achieve clinical response by Week 12 of eculizumab treatment, first responses can be observed with longer‐term treatment.
Engineering Bioactive M2 Macrophage‐Polarized Anti‐Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Scaffolds for Rapid Angiogenesis and Diabetic Wound Repair
Authors: Tu Zhuolong , Chen Mi , Wang Min , Shao Zhenxuan , Jiang Xiaoqi , Wang Kangyan , Yao Zhe , Yang Shiwei , Zhang Xingxing , Gao Weiyang , Lin Cai , Lei Bo , Mao Cong 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDiabetic wound healing still faces great challenges due to the excessive inflammation, easy infection, and impaired angiogenesis in wound beds. The immunoregulation of macrophages polarization toward M2 phenotype that facilitates the transition from inflammation to proliferation phase has been proved to be an effective way to improve diabetic wound healing. Herein, an M2 phenotype‐enabled anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial conductive hydrogel scaffolds (GDFE) for producing rapid angiogenesis and diabetic wound repair are reported. The GDFE scaffolds are fabricated facilely through the dynamic crosslinking between polypeptide and polydopamine and graphene oxide. The GDFE scaffolds possess thermosensitivity, self‐healing behavior, injectability, broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory ability, and electronic conductivity. GDFE effectively activates the polarization of macrophages toward M2 phenotype and significantly promotes the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, the migration, and in vitro angiogenesis of endothelial cells through paracrine mechanisms. The in vivo results from a full‐thickness diabetic wound model demonstrate that GDFE can rapidly promote the diabetic wound repair and skin regeneration, through fast anti‐inflammation and angiogenesis and M2 macrophage polarization. This study provides highly efficient strategy for treating diabetic wound repair through designing the M2 polarization‐enabled anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial bioactive materials.
Silica Jar‐with‐Lid as Chemo‐Enzymatic Nano‐Compartment for Enantioselective Synthesis inside Living Cells
Authors: Kim Seonock , Kumari Nitee , Lim Jongwon , Dubbu Sateesh , Kumar Amit , Lee In Su 
Published: May 2021

AbstractNanodevices, harvesting the power of synthetic catalysts and enzymes to perform enantioselective synthesis inside cell, have never been reported. Here, we synthesized round bottom jar‐like silica nanostructures (SiJARs) with a chemo‐responsive metal‐silicate lid. This was isolated as an intermediate structure during highly controlled solid‐state nanocrystal‐conversion at the arc‐section of silica shell. Different catalytic noble metals (Pt, Pd, Ru) were selectively modified on the lid‐section through galvanic reactions. And, lid aperture‐opening was regulated by mild acidic conditions or intracellular environment which accommodated the metal nanocrystals and enzymes, and in turn created an open‐mouth nanoreactor. Distinct from the free enzymes, SiJARs performed asymmetric aldol reactions with high activity and enantioselectivity (yield >99 %, ee=95 %) and also functioned as the artificial catalytic organelles inside living cells. This work bridges the enormous potential of sophisticated nanocrystal‐conversion chemistry and advanced platforms for new‐to‐nature catalysis.