bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Intervention Programmes and Technological Innovations for Library Growth in Public Universities in Nigeria
Authors: Akwang Nse Emmanuel , Udoh Inemesit Udom , Obot Imaobong Ndifreke 
Published: July 2024

This study examined intervention programmes and technological innovations for library growth in public universities in Nigeria. It adopted a descriptive research design, with a population of 164 librarians. For data collection, an online questionnaire using Google forms was developed and administered via Nigerian Library Association (NLA) WhatsApp platforms. The questionnaire items were vetted by experts in LIS and research methods for face and content validity and administered to a group of librarians who were not part of the main study to achieve the reliability index of .804. From the 164 librarians, a total of 120 librarians from various public universities in Nigeria responded to the questionnaire and the data generated were analyzed using frequency counts, mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that though the librarians’ awareness level of intervention programmes such as TETFund, Needs Assessment, NCC intervention, MacArthur Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, etc., was high, the general impacts of both local and foreign intervention programmes to the public universities was low. It showed that apart from TETFund intervention, other local and foreign intervention programmes were not yielding the desired impacts in the areas of providing infrastructure and facilities, donation of physical books, subscription to real-time databases, and staff training. The study revealed difficulty in accessing funds due to cumbersome processes, lack of support by university management, overbearing interests by stakeholders, corrupt practices by contractors and unresponsive attitude of management of universities as major constraints to accessing intervention programmes in Nigeria. The study recommended, among others, that management of public universities should organize regular training programmes for librarians, allow university libraries free hand to manage funds accruable to them from intervention agencies, and motivate them to seek funding from more local and foreign donor agencies for library growth.
Groundwater Quality of Regions Surrounding the Noyyal River in Tiruppur District and its Impact on Agriculture
Authors: Prasath G. Arun , Velmurugan D. 
Published: July 2024

Public policy is in response to public real-world problems. Its relevance is also essential as well. One such policy is to control the pollution problem in rivers. In this connection, evidence is focused here by a research study on Noyyal river pollution in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu state in India. The Noyyal River is one of the non-perennial rivers flowing in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu, predominantly in the Tiruppur district. Its river basin, including groundwater, gradually deteriorated due to the discharge of industrial effluents (pollution) over the years until 2011, after which the ZLD policy was in practice in complete stoppage of pollution. This study evaluated groundwater quality and its impact on the area surrounding the Noyyal River in the Avinashi and Palladam blocks of the Tirupur district after the implementation of ZLD. The selected block is divided into three regions based on the distance from the river, with 40 sample farms from each region contributing to a total of 120 samples. Based on the farmer’s opinion, the study found that water quality was inferior in the closer region as it tasted inadequate (salty) and unsuitable for use. However, in distant regions, the water tastes good. The results can be proved with groundwater samples in the study area with high salt contents (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, etc.). The constructed water quality index is also high (>75%) in the closer region, showing the pollution intensity. The study concludes that pollution caused by the dyeing industries in the groundwater still exists in the study area and therefore recommends allotment of a small area of land under farm ponds to store good quality water during rains, thereby ensuring percolation of rainwater to improve the quality of groundwater and thus enabling the ecosystem for agricultural improvement.
Importance of Minerals in Silkworm Nutrition: A Review
Authors: Bora Nanita , Singha Th. Aruna , Gogoi Dhanalakhi 
Published: July 2024

The amount of silk produced by silkworms is influenced by several factors. The silkworm's nutrition is the most important element for good quality cocoon and silk production as it is dependent on the healthiness of the silkworm. Health, growth and resistance to biotic factors are directly dependent on the nutrition of the silkworm which is derived from the food. Consuming a well-balanced nutritious food is particularly important for silkworms, since they only consume throughout their larval period. Among the different nutritional requirements by the silkworm, minerals plays an important role. Minerals are not synthesized within insects, although they are essential elements and affect various metabolic processes. Minerals affect the growth and development of larva, economic cocoon characters and silk yield. Many functions of the neuromuscular, reproductive and hormonal systems among others can be efficiently controlled by adding micronutrients and trace elements such as minerals to the diet.
Superior Micro‐Supercapacitors Based on Graphene Quantum Dots
Authors: Liu Wen‐Wen , Feng Ya‐Qiang , Yan Xing‐Bin , Chen Jiang‐Tao , Xue Qun‐Ji 
Published: March 2013

AbstractGraphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted tremendous research interest due to the unique properties associated with both graphene and quantum dots. Here, a new application of GQDs as ideal electrode materials for supercapacitors is reported. To this end, a GQDs//GQDs symmetric micro‐supercapacitor is prepared using a simple electro‐deposition approach, and its electrochemical properties in aqueous electrolyte and ionic liquid electrolyte are systematically investigated. The results show that the as‐made GQDs micro‐supercapacitor has superior rate capability up to 1000 V s−1, excellent power response with very short relaxation time constant (τ0 = 103.6 μs in aqueous electrolyte and τ0 = 53.8 μs in ionic liquid electrolyte), and excellent cycle stability. Additionally, another GQDs//MnO2 asymmetric supercapacitor is also built using MnO2 nanoneedles as the positive electrode and GQDs as the negative electrode in aqueous electrolyte. Its specific capacitance and energy density are both two times higher than those of GQDs//GQDs symmetric micro‐supercapacitor in the same electrolyte. The results presented here may pave the way for a new promising application of GQDs in micropower suppliers and microenergy storage devices.
Carboxylates versus Fluorines: Boosting the Emission Properties of Commercial BODIPYs in Liquid and Solid Media
Authors: Durán‐Sampedro Gonzalo , Agarrabeitia Antonia R. , Cerdán Luis , Pérez‐Ojeda M. Eugenia , Costela Angel , García‐Moreno Inmaculada , Esnal Ixone , Bañuelos Jorge , Arbeloa Iñigo López , Ortiz María J. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractA new and facile strategy for the development of photonic materials is presented that fufills the conditions of being efficient, stable, and tunable laser emitters over the visible region of spectrum, with the possibility of being easily processable and cost‐effective. This approach uses poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a host for new dyes with improved efficiency and photostability synthesized. Using a simple protocol, fluorine atoms in the commercial (4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene) (F‐BODIPY) by carboxylate groups. The new O‐BODIPYs exhibit enhanced optical properties and laser behavior both in the liquid and solid phases compared to their commercial analogues. Lasing efficiencies up to 2.6 times higher than those recorded for the commercial dyes are registered with high photostabilities since the laser output remain at 80% of the initial value after 100 000 pump pulses in the same position of the sample at a repetition rate of 30 Hz; the corresponding commercial dye entirely loses its laser action after only 12 000 pump pulses. Distributed feedback laser emission is demonstrated with organic films incorporating new O‐BODIPYs deposited onto quartz substrates engraved with appropriated periodical structures. These dyes exhibit laser thresholds up to two times lower than those of the corresponding parent dyes with lasing intensities up to one order of magnitude higher.
Organization of work in the agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector in the US southeast: Implications for immigrant workers' occupational safety and health
Authors: Grzywacz Joseph G. , Lipscomb Hester J. , Casanova Vanessa , Neis Barbara , Fraser Clermont , Monaghan Paul , Vallejos Quirina M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundThere is widespread agreement that work organization is an important element of occupational safety and health, but the health effects of many aspects of work organization are likely to vary considerably across different sectors of work and geographies.MethodsWe examined existing employment policies and work organization‐related research relevant specifically to immigrant workers in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF) Sector of the US workforce focusing, when possible, on the southeastern US.ResultsA number of specific aspects of work organization within AgFF subsectors have been described, but most of this literature exists outside the purview of occupational health. There are few studies that directly examine how attributes of work organization relevant to the AgFF Sector affect workers', much less immigrant workers', occupational health exposures and outcomes.ConclusionsIn contrast to the broader literature, research linking occupational health outcomes to work organization in the AgFF Sector is limited and weak. A systematic program of research and intervention is needed to develop strategies that eliminate or substantially mitigate the deleterious health effects of occupational exposures whose origins likely lie in the organization of AgFF work. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:925–939, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Common obesity risk alleles in childhood attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Albayrak Özgür , Pütter Carolin , Volckmar Anna‐Lena , Cichon Sven , Hoffmann Per , Nöthen Markus M. , Jöckel Karl‐Heinz , Schreiber Stefan , Wichmann H‐Erich , Faraone Stephen V. , Neale Benjamin M. , Herpertz‐Dahlmann Beate , Lehmkuhl Gerd , Sinzig Judith , Renner Tobias J. , Romanos Marcel , Warnke Andreas , Lesch Klaus‐Peter , Reif Andreas , Schimmelmann Benno G. , Scherag André , Hebebrand Johannes , Hinney Anke ,   Psychiatric GWAS Consortium: ADHD Subgroup
Published: March 2013

AbstractChildren with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a higher rate of obesity than children without ADHD. Obesity risk alleles may overlap with those relevant for ADHD. We examined whether risk alleles for an increased body mass index (BMI) are associated with ADHD and related quantitative traits (inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity). We screened 32 obesity risk alleles of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) for ADHD based on 495 patients and 1,300 population‐based controls and performed in silico analyses of the SNPs in an ADHD meta‐analysis comprising 2,064 trios, 896 independent cases, and 2,455 controls. In the German sample rs206936 in the NUDT3 gene (nudix; nucleoside diphosphate linked moiety X‐type motif 3) was associated with ADHD risk (OR: 1.39; P = 3.4 × 10−4; Pcorr = 0.01). In the meta‐analysis data we found rs6497416 in the intronic region of the GPRC5B gene (G protein‐coupled receptor, family C, group 5, member B; P = 7.2 × 10−4; Pcorr = 0.02) as a risk allele for ADHD. GPRC5B belongs to the metabotropic glutamate receptor family, which has been implicated in the etiology of ADHD. In the German sample rs206936 (NUDT3) and rs10938397 in the glucosamine‐6‐phosphate deaminase 2 gene (GNPDA2) were associated with inattention, whereas markers in the mitogen‐activated protein kinase 5 gene (MAP2K5) and in the cell adhesion molecule 2 gene (CADM2) were associated with hyperactivity. In the meta‐analysis data, MAP2K5 was associated with inattention, GPRC5B with hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention and CADM2 with hyperactivity/impulsivity. Our results justify further research on the elucidation of the common genetic background of ADHD and obesity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Molecular and clinical characterization of 25 individuals with exonic deletions of NRXN1 and comprehensive review of the literature
Authors: Béna Frédérique , Bruno Damien L. , Eriksson Mats , van Ravenswaaij‐Arts Conny , Stark Zornitza , Dijkhuizen Trijnie , Gerkes Erica , Gimelli Stefania , Ganesamoorthy Devika , Thuresson Ann Charlotte , Labalme Audrey , Till Marianne , Bilan Frédéric , Pasquier Laurent , Kitzis Alain , Dubourgm Christele , Rossi Massimiliano , Bottani Armand , Gagnebin Maryline , Sanlaville Damien , Gilbert‐Dussardier Brigitte , Guipponi Michel , van Haeringen Arie , Kriek Marjolein , Ruivenkamp Claudia , Antonarakis Stylianos E. , Anderlid Britt Marie , Slater Howard R. , Schoumans Jacqueline 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis study aimed to elucidate the observed variable phenotypic expressivity associated with NRXN1 (Neurexin 1) haploinsufficiency by analyses of the largest cohort of patients with NRXN1 exonic deletions described to date and by comprehensively reviewing all comparable copy number variants in all disease cohorts that have been published in the peer reviewed literature (30 separate papers in all). Assessment of the clinical details in 25 previously undescribed individuals with NRXN1 exonic deletions demonstrated recurrent phenotypic features consisting of moderate to severe intellectual disability (91%), severe language delay (81%), autism spectrum disorder (65%), seizures (43%), and hypotonia (38%). These showed considerable overlap with previously reported NRXN1‐deletion associated phenotypes in terms of both spectrum and frequency. However, we did not find evidence for an association between deletions involving the β‐isoform of neurexin‐1 and increased head size, as was recently published in four cases with a deletion involving the C‐terminus of NRXN1. We identified additional rare copy number variants in 20% of cases. This study supports a pathogenic role for heterozygous exonic deletions of NRXN1 in neurodevelopmental disorders. The additional rare copy number variants identified may act as possible phenotypic modifiers as suggested in a recent digenic model of neurodevelopmental disorders. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Numerical simulation on gas–liquid flow, heat, and mass transfer characteristics in a dual‐contact‐flow absorption tower
Authors: Zhang Yafei , Li Na , Kong Dejuan , Zhou Qulan , Luo Rui , Xu Tongmo 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTBecause of the limitation of accurate measurement of microscopic parameters in the dual‐contact‐flow absorption tower, the diameter, velocity, temperature of a single droplet, and the concentration of matter in it are difficult to be obtained through experimental methods. However, these data are of crucial importance to understand the behaviors of liquid phase in the absorber. In this paper, the microscopic motion, heat, and mass transfer characteristics of droplets in the dual‐contact‐flow absorption tower have been numerically simulated, and the results have been validated by experimental data. The motion trails of droplets under different initial jetting velocities and gas velocities are studied, and the fall‐back characteristics have been obtained. The critical diameters of droplets increase remarkably with the increase of gas velocity but have limited relationship with the liquid initial jetting velocity. The heat and mass transfer capacities of droplets have also been investigated. It is found that because of the diversity between the concentration relaxation time and the temperature relaxation time, there may be considerable difference between heat and mass transfer behaviors. All the work above is a complement of the basic performance of droplets in the dual‐contact‐flow absorber and can supply guidance for estimating the practical application performance. © 2013 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of pre‐existing anti‐carrier immunity and antigenic element multiplicity on efficacy of a modular virus‐like particle vaccine
Authors: Chuan Yap P. , Rivera‐Hernandez Tania , Wibowo Nani , Connors Natalie K. , Wu Yang , Hughes Fiona K. , Lua Linda H.L. , Middelberg Anton P.J. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTModularization of a peptide antigen for presentation on a microbially synthesized murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) virus‐like particle (VLP) offers a new alternative for rapid and low‐cost vaccine delivery at a global scale. In this approach, heterologous modules containing peptide antigenic elements are fused to and displayed on the VLP carrier, allowing enhancement of peptide immunogenicity via ordered and densely repeated presentation of the modules. This study addresses two key engineering questions pertaining to this platform, exploring the effects of (i) pre‐existing carrier‐specific immunity on modular VLP vaccine effectiveness and (ii) increase in the antigenic element number per VLP on peptide‐specific immune response. These effects were studied in a mouse model and with modular MuPyV VLPs presenting a group A streptococcus (GAS) peptide antigen, J8i. The data presented here demonstrate that immunization with a modular VLP could induce high levels of J8i‐specific antibodies despite a strong pre‐existing anti‐carrier immune response. Doubling of the J8i antigenic element number per VLP did not enhance J8i immunogenicity at a constant peptide dose. However, the strategy, when used in conjunction with increased VLP dose, could effectively increase the peptide dose up to 10‐fold, leading to a significantly higher J8i‐specific antibody titer. This study further supports feasibility of the MuPyV modular VLP vaccine platform by showing that, in the absence of adjuvant, modularized GAS antigenic peptide at a dose as low as 150 ng was sufficient to raise a high level of peptide‐specific IgGs indicative of bactericidal activity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110:2343–2351. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sensitive profiling of biogenic amines in human urine by capillary electrophoresis with field amplified sample injection
Authors: Bacaloni A. , Insogna S. , Sancini A. , Ciarrocca M. , Sinibaldi F. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTIn order to monitor biogenic amines in human urine, a method based on field‐amplified sample injection combined with capillary electrophoresis and direct UV absorption detection was developed. Dopamine, tyramine, tryptamine, serotonin and epinephrine were effectively separated and identified in human urine samples, and detection limits were 0.072, 0.010, 0.027, 0.010 and 0.120 µmol/L, respectively. Detection limits comparable to laser‐induced fluorescence detection or solid phase extraction combined with capillary electrophoresis were achieved. Parameters affecting electrophoretic system detection sensitivity were investigated. Optimal separation conditions were obtained using as background electrolyte a pH 6.5 mixture of 2‐(morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid 20 mmol/L and 30 mmol/L phosphate buffer, containing 0.05% hydroxypropylcellulose and 10% v/v methanol. Injections of the sample solution were performed by applying a voltage of 12 kV for 50 s. Recovery and accuracy ranged between 89.4 and 94.9%, and 89 and 112%, respectively. The method was successfully applied on actual urine samples (from a healthy volunteer): target bioamine content was consistent with endogenous levels reported in the literature. The proposed method is simple, fast and inexpensive and can be conveniently employed in work‐related stress studies. The affordability and noninvasive sampling of the method allow epidemiological studies on large number of exposed persons to be performed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and in Vitro Characterisation of Ifenprodil‐Based Fluorescein Conjugates as GluN1/GluN2B N‐Methyl‐D‐aspartate Receptor Antagonists
Authors: Dhilly Martine , Becerril‐Ortega Javier , Colloc'h Nathalie , MacKenzie Eric T. , Barré Louisa , Buisson Alain , Nicole Olivier , Perrio Cécile 
Published: March 2013

AbstractGluN2B‐containing NMDA receptors are involved in many important physiological functions and play a pivotal role in mediating pain as well as in several neurodegenerative disorders. We aimed to develop fluorescent probes to target the GluN2B subunit selectively in order to allow better understanding of the relationships between receptor localisation and physiological importance. Ifenprodil, known as the GluNR2B antagonist of reference, was chosen as the template for the elaboration of probes. We had previously reported a fluorescein conjugate that was shown (by confocal microscopy imaging of DS‐red‐labelled cortical neurons) to bind specifically to GluN2B. To elaborate this probe, we explored the influence of both the nature and the attachment point of the spacer between the fluorophore and the parent compound, ifenprodil. We performed chemical modifications of ifenprodil at the benzylic position and on the phenol ring by introducing secondary amine or amide functions and evaluated alkyl chains from two to 20 bonds either including or not including secondary amide functions as spacers. The previously developed probe was found to display the greatest activity in the inhibition of NMDA‐induced Ca2+ influx by calcium imaging experiments on HEK293 cells transfected with the cDNA encoding for GluN1‐1A and GluN2B. Further investigations revealed that this probe had a neuroprotective effect equivalent to that of ifenprodil in a standard test for neurotoxicity. Despite effects of lesser amplitude with these probes relative to ifenprodil, we demonstrated that they displaced [3H]ifenprodil in mouse brain slices in a similar manner.
Optimizing UPLC isocyanate determination through a Taguchi experimental design approach
Authors: André Catarina , Jorge Fabiana , Castanheira Isabel , Matos Ana 
Published: March 2013

The development of a chromatographic procedure for an ultra‐performance liquid chromatography can be a very time‐consuming task, as the general approach for finding the appropriate operating conditions has been a trial‐and‐error process. The present study reports a novel approach in the field of ultra‐performance liquid chromatography by using statistical experimental design based on Taguchi's method, which allows a complete separation of nine isocyanates present in a complex matrix. The resolution between two adjacent peaks was considered as a quality characteristic and transformed to a Taguchi signal‐to‐noise ratio. An orthogonal array L9 (34) was selected to analyze the effect of four chromatographic factors, that is, proportion of solvent, percent triethylamine (v/v), temperature (°C), and flow (mL min−1), with three levels each. The joint analysis performed to the significant factors achieved in the eight analyses of variance allowed to identify two methods to conduct a complete separation of all peaks. Six isocyanates were separated with the first method, with all factors at the lowest level. The remaining three isocyanates were separated with the second method, with the proportion of solvent at the highest level and the other factors at the lowest level. The overall Taguchi experimental design identified the proportion of solvent and the flow rate as major chromatographic factors. Finally, confirmatory experiments were performed with samples prepared with six and three isocyanates, confirming the complete separation of all isocyanates in the study.The Taguchi methods provided a systematic and efficient methodology for this optimization, with considerably less effort than would be required for other optimizations techniques. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.