bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monitoring of the ice caps area changes on Galindez, Winter and Skua Islands (Argentine Islands, West Antarctica)
Authors:   Institute of Geodesy, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Savchyn І. , Shylo Ye. ,   Institute of Geodesy, Lviv Polytechnic National University
Published: March 2021

Due to global warming, the glaciers and ice systems of Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula have been significantly changing in shape and size in recent decades. Therefore, to control, forecast and prevent such processes, it is necessary to constantly monitor and analyse changes in the basic parameters of glaciers and ice systems. This paper proposes a study of changes in the area of ice caps located on the Galindez, Winter and Skua islands (Argentine Islands, West Antarctica). The study is based on the integration of different spatio-temporal datasets into a single system for retrospective geographical monitoring of changes in the area of Galindez, Winter and Skua islands ice caps. The system for integrating space-time datasets is the UTM coordinate system (zone 20, South). Using transformed archival cartographic materials, as well as recently obtained orthophotos, the boundaries of the glaciers in different periods of research were digitized. Based on the identified boundaries, the significance of changes in the area of island glaciers, as well as the rate of their change during 1935–2019, were determined. Based on the integration of different spatio-temporal datasets into a single system, retrospective-geographical monitoring of changes in icecaps area during 1935–2019 was performed. The ice caps were found to be experiencing systematic decrease in area with average linear rate of decrease from –0.30%/year to –0.37%/year. A detailed analysis of all integrated spatio-temporal data sets including determination of the cause of changes in the area of the Galindez, Winter and Skua islands' ice caps is a promising topic for further research.
Assessment of the zonal asymmetry trend in Antarctic total ozonecolumn using TOMS measurements and CCMVal-2 models
Authors:   La Trobe University, Siddaway J. , Klekociuk A. ,   Australian Antarctic Division,   University of Melbourne, Alexander S.P. ,   Australian Antarctic Division, Grytsai A. ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Milinevsky G. ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv,   State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Dargaville R. ,   University of Melbourne,   now in Monash University, Ivaniha O. ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Evtushevsky O. ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Published: March 2021

In the paper the seasonal trends in the zonal asymmetry in the quasi-stationary wave pattern of total ozone column (TOC) at southern polar latitudes have been investigated. We evaluated and compared seasonal trends in the zonal TOC asymmetry from modern era satellite measurements using the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer data and the second Chemistry Climate Model Validation (CCMVal-2) assessment. The model longitude phase shifts in asymmetry are in general consistent with the eastward phase shifts observed in historical period 1979–2005, however, there are underestimated values in individual seasons. Future trends in zonal asymmetry from the eleven CCMVal-2 models up to 2100 are presented. They demonstrate the appearance of reverse (westward) future phase shifts, mainly in austral summer. The results are in agreement with previous study and highlight that the general eastward/westward phase shift is caused by both greenhouse gases changes and ozone depletion/recovery. The greenhouse gases change drives a basic long-term eastward shift, which is enhanced (decelerates or reverses) in austral spring and summer by ozone depletion (recovery). The trends in the TOC asymmetry are forced by a general strengthening of the stratospheric zonal flow, which is interacting with the asymmetry of the Antarctic continent to displace the quasi-stationary wave-1 pattern and thus influences the TOC distribution. The results will be useful in prediction of seasonal anomalies in ozone hole and long-term changes in the local TOC trends, in ultraviolet radiation influence on the Southern Ocean biological productivity and in regional surface climate affected by the zonally asymmetric ozone hole.
Shifting baselines: Integrating ecological and isotopic time lags improves trophic position estimates in aquatic consumers
Authors: Possamai B , Hoeinghaus DJ , Garcia AM
Published: March 2021

Nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ15N) are routinely used to estimate consumer trophic positions (TPs). This method is very sensitive to the chosen isotopic baseline, which should incorporate all temporal isotopic variability occurring in the base of the food web sustaining the consumers. However, there is still no consensus on the different methods to represent time intervals for isotopic assimilation. It is uncertain if researchers should compute a single baseline obtained by averaging δ15N source values across all time periods, multiple baselines based on δ15N source values collected concomitantly with consumers, or consider a time lag between sources and consumers. Aiming to provide empirical evidence to help select the best option, we designed 4 methods using different temporal lags between consumers and producers based on a 9 yr time series of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in an estuary. The 4 tested baseline methods considered the δ15N average of producers sampled in all years (Global); the same season as consumers (Concomitantly); the season before the collection of consumers (Delayed); and the previous season as well as the same season of consumer sampling (Interpolation). Comparison of results with an expected model (based on stomach content data) showed that the Delayed method is the most appropriate. We conclude that time lags in the incorporation of stable isotope values between sources and consumers must be considered in baseline δ15N calculations to improve TP estimates and provide more reliable modeling results. Additionally, we provide other recommendations to improve sampling designs when using stable isotopes in TP estimations.
Monthly Variations of the Winter Precipitation over the Philippines During the Mature Phase of Eastern Pacific El Niño
Authors: Liao Wenxu , Fan Yi , Zhu Shoupeng , Huang Yanyan , Lv Yang
Published: March 2021

The influence of ENSO events on winter precipitation anomalies in the Philippines has been well known since decades, but whether this effect is different between months needs further exploration. In this study, the monthly variations of precipitation over the Philippines in winter during the mature phases of ENSO events are investigated with datasets of reanalysis and observations from 1979 to 2019. Results indicate that only the eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño shows different influences on the Philippines winter precipitation among different months. In December during mature EP El Niño events, precipitation deficiency is not significant over the whole Philippines, whereas in January and February, precipitation decreases significantly over the southern Philippines as well as the areas to the southeast of the Philippines. Besides, the correlation between consecutive dry days over the southeast Philippines and ENSO is significantly positive in January and February but not in December. The eastward propagation of EP El Niño–related anomalous anticyclone over the western North Pacific (WNPAC) from December to February is proved responsible for the changed relationship between EP El Niño and precipitation. In December, the center of the WNPAC is located to the southeast of the Indo-China Peninsula, inducing weak lower-level wind anomalies and, consequently, weak vertical movement and water vapor transport anomalies over the Philippines, which exerts limited influence on the local precipitation. In January and February, by contrast, the center of WNPAC is located to the southeast of the Philippines, and therefore the southern Philippines is occupied by anticyclonic moisture transports and downward vertical motions, favoring less precipitations and larger than normal consecutive dry days over there.
Risk Factors for Central and Lateral Lymph Node Metastases in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Micro-Carcinoma: Retrospective Analysis on 484 Cases
Authors: Huang Yijie , Yin Ying , Zhou Wenyi
Published: March 2021

Background

Papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma (PTMC) is defined as a tumor with a larger diameter ≤1 cm which has an indolent course and satisfying prognosis. However, the incidence of lymph node metastasis of PTMC cannot be ignored. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of lymph node metastasis in PTMC patients, as well as to evaluate the risk factors for both central lymph node metastases (CLNM) and lateral lymph node metastases (LLNM).

Methods

Patients who underwent thyroidectomy from January 2017 to October 2020, and pathologically diagnosed with PTMC were enrolled in our study and their medical records were collected and analyzed.

Results

A total of 484 PTMC patients were included. The incidence of central and lateral lymph node metastasis was 49.6% and 9.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated as independent risk factors for CLNM male sex, age <40 years, largest tumor size ≥5 mm and bilaterality. Extrathyroidal extension, presence of CLNM, number of CLNM ≥5 were strong indicators for LLNM.

Conclusion

The incidence of lymph node metastases in PTMC is non-negligible. The identification of potential risk factors for CLNM and LLNM would help tailor individual surgical interventions for patients with PTMC.
Perspectives on the Genetic Associations of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Wordsworth B. Paul , Cohen Carla J. , Davidson Connor , Vecellio Matteo
Published: March 2021

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common form of inflammatory spinal arthritis with a complex polygenic aetiology. Genome-wide association studies have identified more than 100 loci, including some involved in antigen presentation (HLA-B27,ERAP1, andERAP2), some in Th17 responses (IL6R, IL23R, TYK2, andSTAT3), and others in macrophages and T-cells (IL7R, CSF2,RUNX3, andGPR65). Such observations have already helped identify potential new therapies targeting IL-17 and GM-CSF. Most AS genetic associations are not in protein-coding sequences but lie in intergenic regions where their direct relationship to particular genes is difficult to assess. They most likely reflect functional polymorphisms concerned with cell type-specific regulation of gene expression. Clarifying the nature of these associations should help to understand the pathogenic pathways involved in AS better and suggest potential cellular and molecular targets for drug therapy. However, even identifying the precise mechanisms behind the extremely strong HLA-B27 association with AS has so far proved elusive. Polygenic risk scores (using all the known genetic associations with AS) can be effective for the diagnosis of AS, particularly where there is a relatively high pre-test probability of AS. Genetic prediction of disease outcomes and response to biologics is not currently practicable.
Human Cytomegalovirus miR-US33as-5p Targets IFNAR1 to Achieve Immune Evasion During Both Lytic and Latent Infection
Authors: Zhang Qian , Song Xin , Ma Ping , Lv Liping , Zhang Yangyang , Deng Jiang , Zhang Yanyu
Published: March 2021

As the first line of antiviral defense, type I interferon (IFN) binds IFN receptor 1 (IFNAR1) and IFNAR2 to activate the Jak-STAT signal transduction pathway, producing IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) to control viral infection. The mechanisms by which human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) counteracts the IFN pathway are only partially defined. We show that miR-US33as-5p encoded by HCMV is expressed in both lytic and latent infection. By analysis with RNA hybrid and screening with luciferase reporter assays, we identified IFNAR1 as a target of hcmv-miR-US33as-5p, which was further verified by examining the expression of two IFNAR1 mutants and the binding of IFNAR1 to miR-US33as-5p/miR-US33as-5p-M1/miR-US33as-5p-M2. We found that after the transfection of miR-US33as-5p mimics into different cell lines, the phosphorylation of downstream proteins and ISG expression were downregulated. Immunofluorescence showed that the miR-US33as-5p mimics also inhibited STAT1 translocation into the nucleus. Furthermore, we constructed HCMV with mutant miR-US33as-5p and determined that the mutation did not affect HCMV replication. We found that MRC-5/human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells infected with ΔmiRNA HCMV exhibited higher IFNAR1 and ISG expression and a reduced viral load in the presence of exogenous IFN than cells infected with WT HCMV did, confirming that the knockout of miR-US33as-5p impaired viral resistance to IFN. Finally, we tested the effect of ΔmiRNA HCMV on THP-1 and d-THP-1 cells, commonin vitromodels of latent infection and reactivation, respectively. Again, we found that cells infected with ΔmiRNA HCMV showed a reduced viral load in the presence of IFN than the control cells did, confirming that miR-US33as-5p also affects IFN resistance during both latency and reactivation. These results indicate a new microRNA (miRNA)-based immune evasion mechanism employed by HCMV to achieve lifelong infection.
Local Pulmonary Immunological Biomarkers in Tuberculosis
Authors: Morrison Hazel , McShane Helen
Published: March 2021

Regardless of the eventual site of disease, the point of entry for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is via the respiratory tract and tuberculosis (TB) remains primarily a disease of the lungs. Immunological biomarkers detected from the respiratory compartment may be of particular interest in understanding the complex immune response to M.tb infection and may more accurately reflect disease activity than those seen in peripheral samples. Studies in humans and a variety of animal models have shown that biomarkers detected in response to mycobacterial challenge are highly localized, with signals seen in respiratory samples that are absent from the peripheral blood. Increased understanding of the role of pulmonary specific biomarkers may prove particularly valuable in the field of TB vaccines. Here, development of vaccine candidates is hampered by the lack of defined correlates of protection (COPs). Assessing vaccine immunogenicity in humans has primarily focussed on detecting these potential markers of protection in peripheral blood. However, further understanding of the importance of local pulmonary immune responses suggests alternative approaches may be necessary. For example, non-circulating tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) play a key role in host mycobacterial defenses and detecting their associated biomarkers can only be achieved by interrogating respiratory samples such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or tissue biopsies. Here, we review what is known about pulmonary specific immunological biomarkers and discuss potential applications and further research needs.
Increased Within-Network Functional Connectivity May Predict NEDA Status in Fingolimod-Treated MS Patients
Authors: Piervincenzi Claudia , Petsas Nikolaos , De Giglio Laura , Carmellini Maurizio , Giannì Costanza , Tommasin Silvia , Pozzilli Carlo , Pantano Patrizia
Published: March 2021

Only a few studies have evaluated the brain functional changes associated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS), though none used a composite measure of clinical and MRI outcomes to evaluate DMT-related brain functional connectivity (FC) measures predictive of short-term outcome. Therefore, we investigated the following: (1) baseline FC differences between patients who showed evidence of disease activity after a specific DMT and those who did not; (2) DMT-related effects on FC, and; (3) possible relationships between DMT-related FC changes and changes in performance. We used a previously analyzed dataset of 30 relapsing MS patients who underwent fingolimod treatment for 6 months and applied the “no evidence of disease activity” (NEDA-3) status as a clinical response indicator of treatment efficacy. Resting-state fMRI data were analyzed to obtain within- and between-network FC measures. After therapy, 14 patients achieved NEDA-3 status (hereinafter NEDA), while 16 did not (EDA). The two groups significantly differed at baseline, with the NEDA group having higher within-network FC in the anterior and posterior default mode, auditory, orbitofrontal, and right frontoparietal networks than the EDA. After therapy, NEDA showed significantly reduced within-network FC in the posterior default mode and left frontoparietal networks and increased between-network FC in the posterior default mode/orbitofrontal networks; they also showed PASAT improvement, which was correlated with greater within-network FC decrease in the posterior default mode network and with greater between-network FC increase. No significant longitudinal FC changes were found in the EDA. Taken together, these findings suggest that NEDA status after fingolimod is related to higher within-network FC at baseline and to a consistent functional reorganization after therapy.
Prognostic Relevance of Expression of EMP1, CASP1, and NLRP3 Genes in Pediatric B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Singh Jay , Kumari Sarita , Arora Mohit , Verma Deepak , Palanichamy Jayanth Kumar , Kumar Rajive , Sharma Gunjan , Bakhshi Sameer , Pushpam Deepam , Ali M. Shadab , Ranjan Amar , Tanwar Pranay , Chauhan Shyam S. , Singh Archna , Chopra Anita
Published: March 2021

Glucocorticoid (GC), such as prednisolone, is an essential component of multidrug chemotherapy regimen for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Resistance to GC in leukemia cells is associated with disease progression and poor prognosis. Despite the extensive use of GC for many years, molecular mechanisms underlying its resistance in ALL have not been fully uncovered. Recent studies have shown a potential role of EMP1, CASP1, and NLRP3 genes in prednisolone response. In this study on 148 pediatric B-ALL patients, we studied these three genes to assess their association with prednisolone response measured by day 8 blast count after 7 days of induction therapy with prednisolone. Intriguingly, ALL samples exhibited higher expression of EMP1 along with a low expression of CASP1 and NLRP3 compared to disease free normal bone marrow collected from patients with solid tumors. Among the three analyzed genes, only EMP1 was found to be overexpressed in prednisolone poor responders (p=0.015). Further, a comparison of gene expression between cytogenetic subtypes revealed higher expression of EMP1 in BCR-ABL subtype. Expression of EMP1 in multiple gene expression datasets was used for gene set enrichment analysis, which revealed TNF-α, IL-2-STAT5 signaling, inflammatory responses and hypoxia as the major positively associated pathways and E2F targets as negatively associated pathways. Interestingly, the clinical remission rate was higher in CASP1 high patients (p=0.048). In univariate survival analysis, higher EMP1 expression was associated with poor prognostic measures while higher expression of NLRP3 and CASP1 was associated with better prognostic measures in our data. Further, multivariate analysis revealed an independent association of high CASP1 and NLRP3 with a better prognosis. This study strengthens the available evidence that mRNA expression of EMP1, CASP1, and NLRP3 may serve as potential biomarkers for risk stratification of pediatric B-ALL patients.
Immune-Related Adverse Events and Their Association With the Effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Real-World Study From China
Authors: Chen Xiaoling , Nie Jun , Dai Ling , Hu Weiheng , Zhang Jie , Han Jindi , Ma Xiangjuan , Tian Guangming , Han Sen , Wu Di , Wang Yang , Long Jieran , Zhang Ziran , Fang Jian
Published: March 2021

Background

Programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors are increasingly used in China, but no real-world data are available about the immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This real-world retrospective study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to analyze the association between irAEs and effectiveness.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of the clinical data of patients with NSCLC treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors from August 2016 to November 2019 at Beijing Cancer Hospital. The patients were divided into the irAE or non-irAE groups. Overall adverse events, the impact of irAE on tumor response, and the association of irAEs with effectiveness were evaluated.

Results

One hundred and ninety-one patients were included, including 70 (36.6%) patients in the irAE group and 121 (63.4%) patients in the non-irAE group. AE, grades 3–5 AEs, and irAE occurred in 107 (56.0%), 24 (12.6%), and 70 (36.6%) of the patients, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were higher in the irAE group compared with the non-irAE group (42.0% vs. 25.8%, P=0.038; 91.9% vs. 70.8%, P=0.002). Multivariable analyses identified that irAE were associated with progression-free survival (HR=0.62, 95%CI: 0.43–0.91; P=0.015), but not with overall survival (HR=0.76, 95%CI: 0.44–1.28; P=0.299).

Conclusion

In NSCLC treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, patients with irAEs showed improved effectiveness over patients without irAEs. Future studies of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy should explore this association and the underlying biological mechanisms of efficacy.
Evaluating the Accuracy of Breast Cancer and Molecular Subtype Diagnosis by Ultrasound Image Deep Learning Model
Authors: Zhang Xianyu , Li Hui , Wang Chaoyun , Cheng Wen , Zhu Yuntao , Li Dapeng , Jing Hui , Li Shu , Hou Jiahui , Li Jiaying , Li Yingpu , Zhao Yashuang , Mo Hongwei , Pang Da
Published: March 2021

Background: Breast ultrasound is the first choice for breast tumor diagnosis in China, but the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categorization routinely used in the clinic often leads to unnecessary biopsy. Radiologists have no ability to predict molecular subtypes with important pathological information that can guide clinical treatment.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective study collected breast ultrasound images from two hospitals and formed training, test and external test sets after strict selection, which included 2,822, 707, and 210 ultrasound images, respectively. An optimized deep learning model (DLM) was constructed with the training set, and the performance was verified in both the test set and the external test set. Diagnostic results were compared with the BI-RADS categorization determined by radiologists. We divided breast cancer into different molecular subtypes according to hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression. The ability to predict molecular subtypes using the DLM was confirmed in the test set.

Results: In the test set, with pathological results as the gold standard, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 85.6, 98.7, and 63.1%, respectively, according to the BI-RADS categorization. The same set achieved an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 89.7, 91.3, and 86.9%, respectively, when using the DLM. For the test set, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.96. For the external test set, the AUC was 0.90. The diagnostic accuracy was 92.86% with the DLM in BI-RADS 4a patients. Approximately 70.76% of the cases were judged as benign tumors. Unnecessary biopsy was theoretically reduced by 67.86%. However, the false negative rate was 10.4%. A good prediction effect was shown for the molecular subtypes of breast cancer with the DLM. The AUC were 0.864, 0.811, and 0.837 for the triple-negative subtype, HER2 (+) subtype and HR (+) subtype predictions, respectively.

Conclusion: This study showed that the DLM was highly accurate in recognizing breast tumors from ultrasound images. Thus, the DLM can greatly reduce the incidence of unnecessary biopsy, especially for patients with BI-RADS 4a. In addition, the predictive ability of this model for molecular subtypes was satisfactory,which has specific clinical application value.
A Review of Nervonic Acid Production in Plants: Prospects for the Genetic Engineering of High Nervonic Acid Cultivars Plants
Authors: Liu Fang , Wang Pandi , Xiong Xiaojuan , Zeng Xinhua , Zhang Xiaobo , Wu Gang
Published: March 2021

Nervonic acid (NA) is a very-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid that plays crucial roles in brain development and has attracted widespread research interest. The markets encouraged the development of a refined, NA-enriched plant oil as feedstocks for the needed further studies of NA biological functions to the end commercial application. Plant seed oils offer a renewable and environmentally friendly source of NA, but their industrial production is presently hindered by various factors. This review focuses on the NA biosynthesis and assembly, NA resources from plants, and the genetic engineering of NA biosynthesis in oil crops, discusses the factors that affect NA production in genetically engineered oil crops, and provides prospects for the application of NA and prospective trends in the engineering of NA. This review emphasizes the progress made toward various NA-related topics and explores the limitations and trends, thereby providing integrated and comprehensive insight into the nature of NA production mechanisms during genetic engineering. Furthermore, this report supports further work involving the manipulation of NA production through transgenic technologies and molecular breeding for the enhancement of crop nutritional quality or creation of plant biochemical factories to produce NA for use in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.
A Qualitative Exploration of Aged-Care Residents’ Everyday Music Listening Practices and How These May Support Psychosocial Well-Being
Authors: Krause Amanda E. , Davidson Jane W.
Published: March 2021

Strategies to support the psychosocial well-being of older adults living in aged-care are needed; and evidence points toward music listening as an effective, non-pharmacological tool with many benefits to quality of life and well-being. Yet, the everyday listening practices (and their associated specific psychosocial benefits) of older adults living in residential aged-care remain under-researched. The current study explored older adults’ experiences of music listening in their daily lives while living in residential aged-care and considered how music listening might support their well-being. Specifically, what might go into autonomous listening activities? 32 Australian residents (aged 73–98) living in two Australian care facilities participated in semi-structured interviews. The results of a qualitative thematic analysis revealed three themes pertaining to “previous music experiences and interest,” “current music listening,” and “barriers to listening.” While an interest in and access to music did not necessarily result in everyday listening practices, of those participants who did listen to music, perceived benefits included outcomes such as entertainment, enjoyment, relaxation, and mood regulation. Drawing on Ruud’s notion of music as a “cultural immunogen” supporting well-being and Self-Determination Theory, theoretical implications of the findings are addressed, relating to how to create and support music activities in aged-care facilities so that they are engaging, meaningful, and promote emotional regulation, community, and well-being.
The Effect of Dopaminergic Replacement Therapy on Creative Thinking and Insight Problem-Solving in Parkinson's Disease Patients
Authors: Salvi Carola , Leiker Emily K. , Baricca Beatrix , Molinari Maria A. , Eleopra Roberto , Nichelli Paolo F. , Grafman Jordan , Dunsmoor Joseph E.
Published: March 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients receiving dopaminergic treatment may experience bursts of creativity. Although this phenomenon is sometimes recognized among patients and their clinicians, the association between dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) in PD patients and creativity remains underexplored. It is unclear, for instance, whether DRT affects creativity through convergent or divergent thinking, idea generation, or a general lack of inhibition. It is also unclear whether DRT only augments pre-existing creative attributes or generates creativity de novo. Here, we tested a group of PD patients when “on” and “off” dopaminergic treatment on a series of tests of creative problem-solving (Alternative Uses Task, Compound Remote Associates, Rebus Puzzles), and related their performance to a group of matched healthy controls as well as to their pre-PD creative skills and measures of inhibition/impulsivity. Results did not provide strong evidence that DRT improved creative thinking in PD patients. Rather, PD patients “on” medication showed less flexibility in divergent thinking, generated fewer ideas via insight, and showed worse performance in convergent thinking overall (by making more errors) than healthy controls. Pre-PD creative skills predicted enhanced flexibility and fluency in divergent thinking when PD patients were “on” medication. However, results on convergent thinking were mixed. Finally, PD patients who exhibited deficits in a measure of inhibitory control showed weaker convergent thinking while “on” medication, supporting previous evidence on the importance of inhibitory control in creative problem-solving. Altogether, results do not support the hypothesis that DRT promotes creative thinking in PD. We speculate that bursts of artistic production in PD are perhaps conflated with creativity due to lay conceptions of creativity (i.e., an art-bias).
RETRACTED: The Association of COVID-19 Pandemic Stress With Health-Related Quality of Life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study
Authors: Hawash Manal Mohammed , Alhazmi Amani Hamad , Wafik Wagida , Muzammil Khursheed , Mushfiq Sakeena , Ahmed Hala Awad
Published: March 2021

Background: There is a global disaster since WHO declared Covid-19 as a pandemic. With the increase in cases & mortality rate, various health issues viz., stress, mental disorders and altered health-related quality of life have been noted as a result of pandemic and lockdowns. This study aimed to assess the association of COVID-19 pandemic stress with health-related quality of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methodology: It was a cross-sectional analytical study. Subjects included 878 citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia aged 18 years and above. Convenience, non-probability sampling technique was used. A web-based, self-administered, electronic questionnaire in Arabic language having three sections; Sociodemographic & clinical profile, Standard PSS-10, and Standard SF-12 was used as the study tool and distributed through various social media means. The study period was of 2 months. Data were analyzed using SPS version 25. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test and the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed for suitable statistical analysis.

Results: Almost two-thirds of the subjects were between the age of 18 to < 40 and majority (74.1%) being females. Majority (83.0%) reported as having no chronic diseases, and 69.5% had no contact history with COVID-19 cases. The mean of MCS & PCS was (32.34 ± 25.30) & (41.65 ± 11.82), respectively. Majority (67.6%) had a moderate level of COVID-19 stress. A significant negative relationship between total stress scores and HRQOL domains was observed.

Conclusion: Majority subjects had a moderate level of stress related to COVID-19 lockdown. Stress during COVID-19 has a significant negative association with both physical and mental HRQOL in which MCS was significantly lower than PCS. It is recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of stress management program and follow a holistic approach.
Institutional, Economic, and Socio-Economic Determinants of the Entrepreneurial Activity of Nations
Authors: Leitão João , Capucho João
Published: March 2021

This empirical study analyses the effects of institutional, economic, and socio-economic determinants on total entrepreneurial activity in the contexts of developed and developing countries. It fills a gap in the literature, regarding the lack of empirical studies about the relationships among entrepreneurial activity, corruption, commercial freedom, economic growth, innovativeness, inward foreign direct investment, unemployment, households, and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs)’ final consumption expenditure, age dependency ratio, education index, and life expectancy at birth. The empirical application uses annual panel data for the 2003–2018 period, with a total sample of 21 countries, analysed in a two-stage empirical application, including preliminary analysis and a quantile regression model. New empirical evidence is provided, revealing a significantly positive role played by commercial freedom, innovativeness, inward foreign direct investment, households, and NPISHs’ final consumption expenditure and education on entrepreneurial activity. Corruption, unemployment, age dependency ratio, and life expectancy at birth have a significantly negative influence on entrepreneurial activity. In terms of implications, greater government control is recommended, in order to foster the quality of nations’ institutional environment. Additionally, suggested is the launch of new incentives to stimulate research and development activities aimed at registering international patents with a global impact, sourced from new ventures and transnational collaboration.
Measuring Canopy Geometric Structure Using Optical Sensors Mounted on Terrestrial Vehicles: A Case Study in Vineyards
Authors: da Silva Daniel Queirós , Aguiar André Silva , dos Santos Filipe Neves , Sousa Armando Jorge , Rabino Danilo , Biddoccu Marcella , Bagagiolo Giorgia , Delmastro Marco
Published: March 2021

Smart and precision agriculture concepts require that the farmer measures all relevant variables in a continuous way and processes this information in order to build better prescription maps and to predict crop yield. These maps feed machinery with variable rate technology to apply the correct amount of products in the right time and place, to improve farm profitability. One of the most relevant information to estimate the farm yield is the Leaf Area Index. Traditionally, this index can be obtained from manual measurements or from aerial imagery: the former is time consuming and the latter requires the use of drones or aerial services. This work presents an optical sensing-based hardware module that can be attached to existing autonomous or guided terrestrial vehicles. During the normal operation, the module collects periodic geo-referenced monocular images and laser data. With that data a suggested processing pipeline, based on open-source software and composed by Structure from Motion, Multi-View Stereo and point cloud registration stages, can extract Leaf Area Index and other crop-related features. Additionally, in this work, a benchmark of software tools is made. The hardware module and pipeline were validated considering real data acquired in two vineyards—Portugal and Italy. A dataset with sensory data collected by the module was made publicly available. Results demonstrated that: the system provides reliable and precise data on the surrounding environment and the pipeline is capable of computing volume and occupancy area from the acquired data.
Organic Farming Increases the Technical Efficiency of Olive Farms in Italy
Authors: Raimondo Maria , Caracciolo Francesco , Nazzaro Concetta , Marotta Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

While there is growing recognition of the positive role played by organic farming in the reduction of the negative externalities due to conventional agriculture, there is uncertainty about the effect of the latter on the economic performance of the farms. In this scenario, the present paper aims at investigating the effect of organic farming on technical efficiency in Italian olive farms. A cross-section dataset was analyzed through the stochastic frontier function, where the adoption of organic farming was explicitly modeled. Then, to obtain an unbiased estimate of the impact of organic farming on technical efficiency, a propensity score matching method was implemented. The findings reveal that organic farming increases technical efficiency in Italian olive farms by approximately 10%. The highest impact of organic farming is observed in small farms. As for the propensity to become organic, we found that the production and the direct sales of a higher quality of gross marketable output, as well as the intensity of labor and machines, increase the probability to adopt organic farming. Conversely, farm localization, the availability of family labor, and financial capital discourage conversion to the organic farming system.
Pasture-Based Livestock Economics under Joint Production of Commodities and Private Amenity Self-Consumption: Testing in Large Nonindustrial Privately Owned Dehesa Case Studies in Andalusia, Spain
Authors: Campos Pablo , Mesa Bruno , Álvarez Alejandro
Published: March 2021

In this study, we apply the hypothesis of private amenity which simulates that the nonindustrial livestock farmers are assured an ex-ante normal minimum operating profitability rate for their investments in the production systems of livestock species based on grazing in a case study of dehesas in Andalusia, Spain. The ex-post measurement in the Agroforestry Accounting System of the commercial operating opportunity cost incurred by the owners at the close of the period corresponds to the lower limit of the additional amount of noncommercial intermediate product of the private amenity self-consumption service (ISSnca). When the livestock farmers obtain an above-normal operating profitability rate, it is assumed that the absence of opportunity cost results in the free use of the private amenity and, therefore, the latter is a free (noneconomic) service with zero value. In the case study of dehesa farms, the results show that the commercial operating profitability rates at basic prices are below the normal. When the ISSnca is included, the operating profitability rates at social prices for the livestock species exceed by 30%, on average, the assumed normal rate of 3%. However, due to the decline in the prices of the inanimate fixed capital in 2010, the average total profitability rate for the livestock species is estimated at 0.1%, which differs substantially from the assumed normal operating profitability rate. These results are of interest with regard to the design and application of official economic accounts at farm scale, which, as in the European Commission Farm Accounting Data Network, omit the measurement of ISSnca.
Natural and Managed Grasslands Productivity during Multiyear in Ex-Arable Lands (in the Context of Climate Change)
Authors: Tripolskaja Liudmila , Kazlauskaite-Jadzevice Asta , Baliuckas Virgilijus , Razukas Almantas
Published: March 2021

Ex-arable land-use change is a global issue with significant implications for climate change and impact for phytocenosis productivity and soil quality. In temperate humid grassland, we examined the impact of climate variability and changes of soil properties on 23 years of grass productivity after conversion of ex-arable soil to abandoned land (AL), unfertilized, and fertilized managed grassland (MGunfert and MGfert, respectively). This study aimed to investigate the changes between phytocenosis dry matter (DM) yield and rainfall amount in May–June and changes of organic carbon (Corg) stocks in soil. It was found that from 1995 to 2019, rainfall in May–June tended to decrease. The more resistant to rainfall variation were plants recovered in AL. The average DM yield of MGfert was 3.0 times higher compared to that in the AL. The DM yields of AL and MG were also influenced by the long-term change of soil properties. Our results showed that Corg sequestration in AL was faster (0.455 Mg ha−1 year−1) than that in MGfert (0.321 Mg ha−1 year−1). These studies will be important in Arenosol for selecting the method for transforming low-productivity arable land into MG.
A New Index Assessing the Viability of PAR Application Projects Used to Validate PAR Models
Authors: Ferrera-Cobos Francisco , Vindel Jose M. , Valenzuela Rita X.
Published: March 2021

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is a useful variable to estimate the growth of biomass or microalgae. However, it is not always feasible to access PAR measurements; in this work, two sets of nine hourly PAR models were developed. These models were estimated for mainland Spain from satellite data, using multilinear regressions and artificial neural networks. The variables utilized were combinations of global horizontal irradiance, clearness index, solar zenith angle cosine, relative humidity, and air temperature. The study territory was divided into regions with similar features regarding PAR through clustering of the PAR clearness index (kPAR). This methodology allowed PAR modeling for the two main climatic regions in mainland Spain (Oceanic and Mediterranean). MODIS 3 h data were employed to train the models, and PAR data registered in seven stations across Spain were used for validation. Usual validation indices assess the extent to which the models reproduce the observed data. However, none of those indices considers the exceedance probabilities, which allow the assessment of the viability of projects based on the data to be modeled. In this work, a new validation index based on these probabilities is presented. Hence, its use, along with the other indices, provides a double and thus more complete validation.
Hydrothermal Pretreatment of Wheat Straw: Effects of Temperature and Acidity on Byproduct Formation and Inhibition of Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Ethanolic Fermentation
Authors: Ilanidis Dimitrios , Stagge Stefan , Jönsson Leif J. , Martín Carlos
Published: March 2021

Biochemical conversion of wheat straw was investigated using hydrothermal pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and microbial fermentation. Pretreatment conditions that were compared included autocatalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment at 160, 175, 190, and 205 °C and sulfuric-acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment at 160 and 190 °C. The effects of using different pretreatment conditions were investigated with regard to (i) chemical composition and enzymatic digestibility of pretreated solids, (ii) carbohydrate composition of pretreatment liquids, (iii) inhibitory byproducts in pretreatment liquids, (iv) furfural in condensates, and (v) fermentability using yeast. The methods used included two-step analytical acid hydrolysis combined with high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), HPLC, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Lignin recoveries in the range of 108–119% for autocatalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment at 205 °C and sulfuric-acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment were attributed to pseudolignin formation. Xylose concentration in the pretreatment liquid increased with temperature up to 190 °C and then decreased. Enzymatic digestibility was correlated with the removal of hemicelluloses, which was almost quantitative for the autocatalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment at 205 °C. Except for the pretreatment liquid from the autocatalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment at 205 °C, the inhibitory effects on Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast were low. The highest combined yield of glucose and xylose was achieved for autocatalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment at 190 °C and the subsequent enzymatic saccharification that resulted in approximately 480 kg/ton (dry weight) raw wheat straw.
Prevalence of Fascioliasis and Associated Economic Losses in Cattle Slaughtered at Lira Municipality Abattoir in Northern Uganda
Authors: Opio Lawrence George , Abdelfattah Essam M. , Terry Joshua , Odongo Steven , Okello Emmanuel
Published: March 2021

Fascioliasis (liver fluke infestation) is one of the most important parasitic diseases affecting cattle, other ruminant animals and humans. Fascioliasis causes large, but usually neglected, economic losses to cattle farmers and traders. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and associated risks for fascioliasis in slaughter cattle and estimate the financial losses due to liver condemnation at the Lira Municipal abattoir in Uganda. A total of 216 cattle were sampled during the study period. Animal breed and sex were determined by observing the phenotypic characteristics of the animals. Age was determined by assessing the eruption and wearing of permanent teeth. After slaughter, the liver was examined for presence of Fasciola spp. (liver flukes) by visual inspection, palpation, and incisions. The bile ducts and gall bladder were similarly examined for presence of mature Fasciola spp. The gross weight and amount of liver trimmed-off due to fluke infestation were determined. Of the 216 liver examined, 65.7% (n = 142) were infested with Fasciola spp. Cattle that were aged 4–5 years old at the time of slaughter had significantly greater odds (OR = 5.84; CI [2.79–12.22]) of being infested with Fasciola spp. compared to those that were younger than 3.5 years old. In contrast, cattle that had a body condition score of 3.5 or 4 had lower odds (OR= 0.42; CI [0.21–0.88] and OR = 0.22; CI [0.04–1.10]) of fascioliasis than those with a BCS of 3. Other tested variables including animal origin, breed, sex, and gross weight of the liver had no significant effect on the prevalence of fascioliasis. This study also revealed that the abattoir loses an estimated 38 million UGX annually due to condemnation of Fasciola-infested liver (one UGX= 0.00027 USD; July 2016). Our study showed that the prevalence of fascioliasis was high in Lira District, Uganda, which results in a large amount of liver being condemned and destroyed, leading to financial losses for affected farmers in the area. Therefore, there is a need to take the necessary preventive measures to control the disease and increase awareness among farmers and medical personnel in the area due to the zoonotic nature of fascioliasis.
For the Sake of Production—And the Animal, and Me. How Students at Danish Agricultural Colleges Perceive Animal Welfare
Authors: Anneberg Inger , Lassen Jesper , Sandøe Peter
Published: March 2021

Farmers’ perceptions of animal welfare have been found to affect the way they treat their animals, and there is growing awareness of the range of ethical views today’s farmers take on animal welfare. The purpose of this study was to examine how perceptions of animal welfare develop among prospective farmers and farm workers in Denmark during their studies at agricultural colleges. We also examined the experiences of college teachers and their views on the inclusion of animal welfare in livestock courses. Drawing on individual interviews and focus group interviews at four Danish agricultural colleges, we used systematic text condensation to identify three major themes among the students: 1. The importance of balancing welfare and productivity, 2. Concerns about the animal itself, 3. Concerns relating to the students themselves. Our interviews with teachers revealed a growing awareness of the inclusion of animal welfare in Danish agricultural colleges, but also disagreements over the way animal welfare should be understood. We conclude that the education of future farmers in Danish agricultural colleges today embraces animal welfare but should leave more room in the future to introduce students to the issue of market-driven welfare and consumer interest in animal-friendly production.