bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response of Ryegrass to Nitrogen Fertilizer under Two Irrigation Systems
Authors: Saleh Fadia Fouad , Al-Amery Ali Hameed
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was evaluation the effectiveness of the some irrigation systems, and determining the best nitrogen fertilizer level and its effect on some growth characteristics and quality of Italian ryegrass seeds. A field experiment was carried out in two locations, the first is the Khan Atshan pasture station in the Karbala, and the second is the Dikkah pasture station - Khanaqin affiliated to the Forestry and Desertification Control Department - Ministry of Agriculture during the fall season 2021-2022. The experiment was carried out according to a randomized complete block design, in split plots arrangement, with three replications. The main plots included two irrigation systems (solid set sprinkler irrigation and free flow irrigation), and the sub plots included the addition of four levels of nitrogen fertilizer in the form of urea (46% N): 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg N h-1, The results showed that the solid set sprinkler irrigation system was significantly superior to the free flow irrigation system in achieving the highest average of the total chlorophyll content in the leaves 17.69 % and 9.63%, crude protein in the cereal 20.54% and 23.60 % and the percentage of carbohydrates in the cereal 13% and 14% for both experimental location, while the free flow irrigation system was significantly superior in achieving the highest mean of the flag leaf area 4.32% and 5.08% and the dry weight of the plant 13.55% and 46.67% for both location. The results also showed that increasing the added nitrogen fertilizer up to the level of 45 kg h-1 led to a significant increase in each of the flag leaf area cm2 and the total chlorophyll content in the leaves mg g-1, percentage of crude protein in cereals, dry weight of plants, percentage of ash in cereals, and percentage of carbohydrates in cereals in two experiment location.
Efficacy of Oleic Acid and Linoleic Acid Vapors on the Stable Phases of Trogoderma granarium (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)
Authors: Hadi Ahmed Hasan , Sabit Falah Aboud
Published: November 2023

The current study is conducted with the aim of evaluating two fatty acids effectiveness and efficiency of steaming, Oleic acid and Linoleic acid, as a natural and safe alternative to chemical pesticides in controlling the hairy grain beetle Trogoderma granarium Evert fixed phases (eggs, pupae). This laboratory study included the use of four concentrations (50, 100, 200, and 150) ppm, with exposure periods that varied according to the insect role. They were (24, 16, 8) hours in the first and (36, 24, 12) hours per/2nd. The results demonstrated the treatment of insect eggs with oleic and linoleic acid vapors presenting the hatching inhibition highest rates, reaching 72.22 and 76.66% at a concentration (200 ppm) and an exposure period (24 hours), with a superior effect of linoleic acid vapor in causing inhibition rates at all concentrations and exposure used periods. The reason for the inhibition in both may be attributed to the ability of the vapor of the two acids to penetrate the egg wall and affect its protoplasm, thus thwarting the growth and development of the embryo. Also, pupae treatment with the vapor of the two acids giving the killing highest rates, reaching75.55 and 71.10, respectively, at a concentration (200 ppm) and an exposure period of (36 hours), with superiority to the effect of oleic acid vapor in killing rates at all concentrations besides using exposure periods. The cause of killing in both vapors may be ascribed to their harmful effects on the respiratory and nervous systems of the pupae, causing them to suffocate and paralyze. As for the results of the statistical analysis, they indicate the significance of each of the effects of concentrations and periods of exposure and the overlap between them to the two acids at both phases.
The Effect of Solar Panel Type on some Irrigation System Parameters and Bean Crop Germination Percentage
Authors: Jassim Ali Q. , Zeinaldeen Laith A.
Published: November 2023

An experiment was carried out at Al-Raed Research Station, which is located on the Baghdad-Anbar road during the winter season, in order to study the effect of the type of solar panels and irrigation system on some performance indicators of irrigation systems and germination percentage of bean crop (Vicia Faba L). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with three replications. The experiment consist of two factors. 1st factor was the solar panel type with two levels : monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Second factor was the irrigation system with two levels Drip and sprinkler irrigation system the following indicators were studied : solar panel efficiency (%), Irrigation system capacity (L / H), coefficient of homogeneity, germination percentage (%). The results shows that the monocrystalline achieved the best result by achieving the highest solar panel efficiency (24.21 %), the highest irrigation capacity (1782 L/H) and highest coefficient of homogeneity (94.54 %), The best solar panel efficiency was achieved with the drip irrigation which has on average (22.50 %), The drip irrigation had the highest coefficient of homogeneity (96.14 %) and the best germination percentage (97.20 %). The interaction between solar panel type and irrigation system shows that the monocrystalline with drip irrigation achieved the best panel efficiency (25.69 %) and highest average for homogeneity (96.72 %).
Reducing the Harmful Exhaust Emissions from the Diesel Engine of the Tractor CASE JX75T by using the EFWP Filter at Different Engine Speeds
Authors: Mishall Abbas A. , Nassir Aqeel J. , Shnaan Haydar A. , Alwan Ali A.
Published: November 2023

In this investigation, the influence of using the EFWP filter on the tractor exhaust emissions was determined. A Water and paper filter is a filter designed to operate as a filter for the exhaust for the reduction of the harmful gas (CO, CO2, NOx, and HC) emission from the engine of the tractor. Emissions experiments were carried out on CASE JX75T tractor at different engine speeds are 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, and 2250 rpm. All engine speed of the tractor underwent experimentation before the installation of the EFWP filter and after installation it. The noises and Bsfec also were measured when the two cases. Each engine speed was tested for approximately 20 minutes in two cases. The results showed a significant (P≤0.05) decreasing in carbon monoxide CO (51.40%), carbon dioxide CO2 (25%), nitrogen oxides NOx (43.43%) and hydrocarbons HC (60.98%) emissions and also, the noises reduced by 25.38% and there was no significant increase in the BSFC (5.34% only) after the EFWP filter was put in the tractor exhaust. The results also showed that increasing the engine speed from 750 to 2250 rpm led to significant increases in CO2, NOx, and HC emissions, while decreased the CO emission. Also, the increased by a percentage of 155.88 and 159.38 % in the case using the EFWP filter and without using it (the ordinary case) respectively. Using the EFWP filter reduced the noises not overridden internationally permitted standards (65 dB).
Prediction of Soil Compaction using Conventional Tillage Systems under Different Operating Conditions
Authors: AbdulSada Azhar Jihad , Almaliki Salim
Published: November 2023

The field experiment was conducted in the College of Agriculture - University of Basra in Karma Ali located in the south of Basra city. The soil was of a clay-silty texture. The study aims to evaluate the negative impact of primary plowing equipment (moldboard plow, disk plow, and chisel plow) on the physical properties of the soil by studying soil compaction indicators such as soil resistance to penetration, soil bulk density, and total porosity. Three plowing depths (15, 20, and 25) cm and three forward speeds of the tractor (0.45, 0.75, and 1.05) m s-1 were used. Intelligent computing was introduced to predict results and simulate soil compaction through the use of Design Expert software. The results showed that there is an effect of all studied factors on the variables of soil physical properties. The effect on the soil penetration resistance characteristic of the type of plow was greater than the depth, and the depth was greater than the forward speed, as the soil penetration resistance was (4.53, 3.84, and 3.23) MPa for the moldboard plow, disc plow, and chisel plow, respectively. As for the effect of increasing the depth, it was 27%, while the effect of increasing the forward speed was 24%. As for the bulk density of the soil, the effect of the type of plow was also greater than the effect of the increase in depth, and the increase in depth was more effective than the increase in the forward speed, as the bulk density was (1.68, 1.52, and 1.48) g.cm-3 for the moldboard, disc, and chisel, respectively. As for the effect of depth, it reached 7%, while the effect of speed reached 5%. As for the total porosity of the soil, the effect of the plow type was greater than the depth, and the greater the depth than the forward speed, as the total porosity reached (43, 41, and 35) % for the moldboard, disc, and chisel plow, respectively. The increase in depth led to a decrease of 7%, and the increase in velocity led to a decrease of 4% in the index of total soil porosity. As for the predicted results, the amount of convergence between the field calculated and predicted results was (96, 95, 95) % for soil penetration resistance, bulk density, and total soil porosity, respectively.
A study of the Environmental Effects of the Use of Palm Stem Injection Technology for the Purposes of Fertilization and Control of Palm Pests in the Al-Tarmiya District
Authors: Karim Mahdi Abdul , Anoun Nadia Kadhim
Published: November 2023

The aim of the research is to identify the environmental effects of the technology of injection of the palm trunk for the purposes of fertilization and control of palm pests. They are distributed among four divisions within the Directorate of Agriculture of the province, and a simple random sample of 7% was chosen from the total number of palm farmers in Baghdad Governorate / Al-Tarmiyah district, which numbered 1708 farmers. They are distributed among three agricultural divisions within the district, which are (Al-Tarmiyah Center, Al-Abaiji, and Al-Mashahada) so that the sample size is (120) individuals. The second part includes (15) paragraphs related to the environmental impacts of using the palm stem injection technology. The results of the research showed that there is a weakness in the extension activities provided in the field of palm service and focus on the control aspect at the expense of the rest of the aspects. The results also showed the agreement of the majority of the respondents on the paragraphs set for the environmental effects, as the paragraph (the risk to farmers is reduced when using injection technology) got a weighted mean of (3.5) and a weight percentile of (97.5) and it came first, in contrast, the last paragraph (preserving living organisms such as birds) came on a weighted mean of (3.12) and a weight percentile of (78).The researcher recommended the importance of increasing and diversifying extension activities in the areas of palm service and urged all groups to participate in them.
The Optimal Use of Modern Agricultural Methods by Vegetable Crop Farmers in Nineveh Province, Iraq
Authors: Altalb Ahmed Awad Talb , Hameed Ali Tariq
Published: November 2023

Current research aims to know the perfect use modern of agricultural methods by vegetables farmers in general in Nineveh governorate, as well as the perfect way to use modern agricultural methods by vegetable farmers in association with research variables, to know the correlation between the perfect use of modern agricultural methods by vegetable farmers and independent variables of research. Research happened in Nineveh Governorate, Rabeaa and Hmedate Distract as place of research with their (400) farmers a simple random sample representing (20%) was taken, so final sample was (80) farmers. Survey questionnaire was made to collect data. Data collecting tool comprised two parts (the first part) including personal information of researchees. The second comprised (25) items regarding vegetable crops and used agricultural methods during stages of cultivation. Results showed that farmers using modern agricultural methods in cultivating vegetables is moderate tends to be low and research variables (age, years of experience in cultivating vegetables plays role developing ideas of vegetable farmers in using modern methods.
Administrative Problems Facing the Agricultural Extension and Training Department in Implementing Extension Activities and Ways to Address Them
Authors: Ramadan Noor Al-Huda Talal , Lafta Ahmed Hamdan
Published: November 2023

The extension service is one of the vital services that farmers in general and farmers in particular desperately need because it takes care of them and focuses on meeting their needs as well as developing solutions to their agricultural problems. Therefore, the research aimed to identify the administrative problems of extension and agricultural training in the process of implementing extension activities and ways to address them from the point of view of agricultural extension agents in the governorates of the central region. In order to achieve the objectives of the research, the questionnaire was designed for the purpose of identifying administrative problems in the process of implementing extension activities first, and then developing treatments as a second goal by identifying the opinions of agricultural extension agents, relying on the literature related to the subject of specialized experts. The questionnaire was presented in its initial form to a group of experts to seek their views on the design components (fields, paragraphs) and verify its validity. The results showed that the percentage of agreement (75%) of the experts’ opinions was obtained by all the axes and paragraphs of the questionnaire. The research community included all the agricultural extension workers working at the headquarters of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department and its formations in the governorates of the central region. The number of those included in the research was (118) agricultural extension agents. Then treat all the data received statistically where there was (weight percentile, weighted mean). The final research results showed that all the administrative problems that were put in the design of the questionnaire are real problems facing the Agricultural Extension and Training Department, as it obtained a weighted mean greater than the imposed mean in the scale of approval ratings used in the research. As for the results of the second objective, the results showed that the topic of interest in the participants’ reactions came in the first place as a real treatment of the administrative problems of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department in the implementation of extension activities. The research recommended improving the administrative process and dealing with the principle of flexibility when drawing up the department’s policies in general, as well as working on the issue of authorizing powers for agricultural extension workers during implementation operations in order to increase the effectiveness of the extension activities implemented.
Eulerian Spaces
Authors: Gartside Paul , Pitz Max
Published: November 2023

We develop a unified theory of Eulerian spaces by combining the combinatorial theory of infinite, locally finite Eulerian graphs as introduced by Diestel and Kühn with the topological theory of Eulerian continua defined as irreducible images of the circle, as proposed by Bula, Nikiel and Tymchatyn.

First, we clarify the notion of an Eulerian space and establish that all competing definitions in the literature are in fact equivalent. Next, responding to an unsolved problem of Treybig and Ward from 1981, we formulate a combinatorial conjecture for characterising the Eulerian spaces, in a manner that naturally extends the characterisation for finite Eulerian graphs. Finally, we present far-reaching results in support of our conjecture which together subsume and extend all known results about the Eulerianity of infinite graphs and continua to date. In particular, we characterise all one-dimensional Eulerian spaces.
The Harms and Crimes of Mining
Authors: Zabyelina Yuliya
Published: November 2023

The world characterized by scarcity of natural resources and the growing demand for metals and minerals has provided strong incentives for illegal mining. Mining-related crimes have become a desirable illegal business for organized criminal groups, rebel forces, terrorist organizations, and private mining companies due to the low risks involved and the frequently limited ability or willingness of authorities to monitor mining areas and supply chains of metals and minerals. Illegal mining has devastated and displaced communities, contaminated clean water sources, and ravaged ecosystems and biodiversity. The problem commands both individual responses from the countries directly impacted by illegal mining as well as responses from the entire international community.
Public and Private Dimensions of Food Education in Early-20th-Century Argentina
Authors: Aisenstein Angela , Gómez Bidondo María Liliana
Published: November 2023

Eating is a conscious activity, not just a biological necessity, and as such, eating habits and tastes can be guided. When individual issues, such as those around food, coincide with the economic, demographic, and health problems of society, they become public issues, then state concerns, and ultimately part of public policy. In Argentina, the education system was founded simultaneously with the nation-state and became a crucial tool in the process of modernization. Feeding and food education were part of that process. This issue was of essential importance in a country structured from the beginning as a dependent agricultural-export economy. Food education is defined as a set of means, methods, and social relationships related to the production, transmission, distribution, and acquisition of knowledge and expertise. The purpose of food education is to influence the kind of food the population eats, to shape their nutritional habits and tastes; to produce enough food and set the conditions, techniques, and technologies to achieve it; to convey people’s rights and obligations to access food; and to establish the roles the state, community, family, and the market must play in order to reproduce the biological, economic, and cultural order of society.
Study Circles
Authors: Larsson Staffan
Published: November 2023

The study circle is a “free and voluntary” pedagogy that has become a mass phenomenon in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. It was initiated within the popular movements in the first years of the 1900s as a tool for education among their members. Around 10 adults typically meet a few hours a week to develop their interests, for example, in art, political topics, music, or foreign language. The “study circle grammar” includes voluntary participation, an extremely wide span of topics to be studied, no requirements of a teacher, and no entrance qualifications, grades, or exams. Tradition stresses deliberations among participants, but practical topics often have a workshop pedagogy. They have received subsidies from the state and from municipalities through various organizational structures depending on country since the early 1900s. They grew and spread fast, reaching a peak in participation in the late 1900s, but have since stagnated; however, a substantial share of adults in Nordic countries continue to engage in them.
Karakorum
Authors: May Timothy
Published: November 2023

Karakorum (Qaraqorum, Qara Qorum, Kara Korum, Khara Khorum, Kharkhorin), located in the Orkhon Valley of Mongolia, served as the capital of the Mongol Empire from 1235 to 1260, or the period of the United Mongol Empire. It must be considered an “implanted” city; that is, a city built and populated with an immediate population rather than one that grew and evolved over time. Although Chinggis Khan (1162–1227) used the Orkhon Valley as a campaign headquarters in the later years of his career, his capital, Avarga, was situated in the Onan-Kerülen basin, which was also his homeland. Not until the reign of his son, Ögödei Qa’an (r. 1229–1241), the second ruler of the Mongol Empire, did the true city of Karakorum appear. While the court remained mobile and moved periodically through the Orkhon Valley, the city of Karakorum served as a constant destination for merchants, missionaries, diplomats, and others who sought to interact with the Mongol court. With a population of perhaps ten thousand people within the walled area, Karakorum could not compare with the metropolises of China nor Baghdad. It served its purpose and in some ways was perhaps the most cosmopolitan city of the 13th century. With the ascension of Qubilai Qa’an to the Mongol throne, Karakorum’s significance dwindled as Qubilai had constructed a new city called Daidu (Ch. Dadu) to serve as his capital in northern China. Having discovered the vulnerabilities of Karakorum during his rise to power, Qubilai determined to ensure the security of his reign by moving the capital to his domain in North China. The move relegated Karakorum to a provincial town. It remained so, though Karakorum experienced a brief revival as a capital after 1368 with the Northern Yuan Empire. In 1380, Ming armies sacked the city. The destruction was enough to end Karakorum’s existence as a city. Construction of the Erdene Zuu Buddhist monastery in 1585 revived the area’s importance. Using materials from the ruins of Karakorum, the monastery was built on the site of Ögödei Qa’an’s palace. The modern city of Kharkorin is adjacent to the monastery and site of medieval Karakorum and houses a museum dedicated to the historical city, while archaeological work continues on the site.
Civilian Victimization During Conflict
Authors: Downes Alexander B. , Rangazas Stephen
Published: November 2023

Since the end of the Cold War, scholars have increasingly sought to explain the causes of civilian victimization—the intentional use of violence against noncombatants—during armed conflict. The question of the effects and effectiveness of violence against civilians, in contrast, has received less scholarly attention. One strand of research examines the impact of wartime civilian victimization on postconflict political behavior and outcomes. A second strand investigates the effectiveness of violence during the war itself. The principal question this literature asks is: Does civilian victimization “work”? Put more precisely, can intentionally targeting noncombatants help belligerents achieve their wartime objectives, whatever those might be? Civilian victimization takes different forms and serves different purposes in different kinds of conflicts; scholarship on its effectiveness is thus divided into work on irregular (predominantly intrastate) wars versus conventional (predominantly, but not exclusively, interstate) wars. No matter what its particular form or in which type of conflict it is used, however, civilian victimization tends to follow two broad logics: coercive and eliminationist. Most scholarship on irregular wars examines the effectiveness of coercive victimization, whereas studies of conventional war look at the efficacy of both. For example, a key debate in the literature on civilian victimization in irregular wars concerns whether selective or indiscriminate violence is more effective at deterring civilians from shifting their allegiances to the adversary. A broad consensus holds that violence is effective only when selective, but new studies have found that indiscriminate violence can also work under certain circumstances. Similarly, there is broad agreement (with some notable exceptions) in the literature on conventional war that coercive civilian victimization—which is almost by definition indiscriminate—is ineffective. In contrast, scholars have yet to assess systematically the effectiveness of eliminationist victimization in conventional war.
Dionysius of Byzantium
Authors: Hanigan Daniel
Published: November 2023

Dionysius of Byzantium is the author of the Anaplous of the Bosporus. This is a geographical text that uses the literary form of the periplous to narrate a hypothetical tour up and down the European and Asiatic shores of the Thracian Bosporus. He is also remembered by ancient biographers as an epic poet responsible for a work of hexametrical verse entitled On Laments. No other evidence of this poem has survived.
Impact of Polytherapy on Memory Functioning in Patients With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: The Role of Attention and Executive Functions
Authors: Lozano-García Alejandro , Catalán-Aguilar Judit , Tormos-Pons Paula , Hampel Kevin G , Villanueva Vicente , Cano-López Irene , González-Bono Esperanza
Published: November 2023

Objective

The aim was to examine the effect of polytherapy (i.e., the number of administered anti-seizure medications (ASMs)) on memory, and whether the interaction between the number of ASMs and attentional/executive functioning affect presurgical memory functioning and postsurgical memory changes in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Methods

Two studies were carried out. Study 1 consisted of a presurgical assessment of 125 adult patients, in which attention/executive function (EpiTrack screening tool) and memory were assessed (cross-sectional study). Of them, 72 patients underwent a second postsurgical evaluation, in which memory was assessed (Study 2). Patients were distributed into groups based on EpiTrack performance and number of ASMs.

Results

The interaction between the number of ASMs and the attentional/executive functioning significantly affected presurgical memory, with patients with impaired EpiTrack performance taking three-four ASMs having poorer scores than patients with intact EpiTrack performance taking three-four ASMs (for all, p < .0001). This interaction also affected postsurgical memory changes, with patients with impaired Epitrack performance taking three-four ASMs having higher postsurgical decline than those with intact Epitrack performance taking three-four ASMs (for all, p < .005). No differences were found in patients taking two ASMs. Furthermore, the number of ASMs was associated with presurgical memory performance and postsurgical memory changes only in patients with impaired EpiTrack performance (for all, p < .05).

Conclusions

Our findings underline the utility of EpiTrack, together with the clinical information on the number of prescribed ASMs, to corroborate the impact of polytherapy on memory and to optimize the prediction of postsurgical memory changes.
Inheritance of environment-induced phenotypic changes through epigenetic mechanisms
Authors: Tando Yukiko , Matsui Yasuhisa
Published: November 2023

Growing evidence suggests that epigenetic changes through various parental environmental factors alter the phenotypes of descendants in various organisms. Environmental factors, including exposure to chemicals, stress and abnormal nutrition, affect the epigenome in parental germ cells by different epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modification as well as small RNAs via metabolites. Some current remaining questions are the causal relationship between environment-induced epigenetic changes in germ cells and altered phenotypes of descendants, and the molecular basis of how the abnormal epigenetic changes escape reprogramming in germ cells. In this review, we introduce representative examples of intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic changes through parental environmental factors and the accompanied epigenetic and metabolic changes, with a focus on animal species. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms of epigenomic inheritance and their possible biological significance.
Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and quality of life in patients with heart failure: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Oriecuia Chiara , Tomasoni Daniela , Sala Isabella , Bonfioli Giovanni Battista , Adamo Marianna , Gussago Cristina , Lombardi Carlo Mario , Pagnesi Matteo , Savarese Gianluigi , Metra Marco , Specchia Claudia
Published: November 2023

Background

Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are one of the cornerstones of heart failure (HF) therapy. While benefits in terms of HF hospitalizations and death are well established, their impact on quality-of-life (QoL) has not been systematically investigated.

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of SGLT2i treatment on QoL in patients with HF, by analysing data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Methods

We identified a total of 23 RCTs that investigated the role of SGLT2i on quality of life in patients with HF, irrespective of their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). RCTs that used Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary score (KCCQ-OSS) to assess QoL and had a minimum follow-up of 3 months were included. The difference in mean change of the KCCQ-OSS between the SGLT2i group and the standard of care (SOC) group at 3 and 6 months from baseline was considered as the outcome measure.

Findings

Fourteen RCTs (21 737 patients) were included in the analysis. A significant improvement in KCCQ-OSS over time (p < 0.001) was observed in both patients receiving SOC and those receiving SGLT2i in addition. The pooled estimate showed a significant improvement of 1.94 points [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.41–2.46] in KCCQ-OSS mean change at 3 months and of 2.18 points (95% CI, 1.13–3.24) at 6 months from baseline, with SGLT2i compared to SOC alone, irrespective of LVEF. A greater improvement in KCCQ-OSS was observed among patients with a recent episode of worsening HF compared to those with chronic stable HF.

Conclusions

Among patients with HF, irrespective of their LVEF and clinical status, the addition of SGLT2i to SOC demonstrated a significant improvement in quality of life as early as at 3-month follow-up.
Surgical training of minimally invasive mitral valve repair on a patient-specific simulator improves surgical skills
Authors: Wang Christina , Karl Roger , Sharan Lalith , Grizelj Andela , Fischer Samantha , Karck Matthias , De Simone Raffaele , Romano Gabriele , Engelhardt Sandy
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVES

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MVR) is considered one of the most challenging operations in cardiac surgery and requires much practice and experience. Simulation-based surgical training might be a method to support the learning process and help to flatten the steep learning curve of novices. The purpose of this study was to show the possible effects on learning of surgical training using a high-fidelity simulator with patient-specific mitral valve replicas.

METHODS

Twenty-five participants were recruited to perform MVR on anatomically realistic valve models during different training sessions. After every session their performance was evaluated by a surgical expert regarding accuracy and duration for each step. A second blinded rater similarly assessed the performance after the study. Through repeated documentation of those parameters, their progress in learning was analysed, and gains in proficiency were evaluated.

RESULTS

Participants showed significant performance enhancements in terms of both accuracy and time. Their surgical skills showed sizeable improvements after only 1 session. For example, the time to implant neo-chordae decreased by 24.64% (354 s-264 s, P < 0.001) and the time for annuloplasty by 4.01% (54 s-50 s, P = 0.165), whereas the number of irregular stitches for annuloplasty decreased from 52% to 24%.

The significance of simulation-based surgical training as a tool for acquiring and training surgical skills was reviewed positively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that simulation-based surgical training is a valuable and effective method for learning reconstructive techniques of minimally invasive MVR and overall general dexterity.

The novel learning and training options should be implemented in the surgical traineeship for systematic teaching of various surgical skills.
Low price-to-book ratios and bank dividend payouts: economic policy implications
Authors: Gambacorta Leonardo , Oliviero Tommaso , Shin Hyun Song
Published: November 2023

Banks with a low price-to-book ratio (PBR) have a greater propensity to pay out dividends. This propensity is especially marked for banks with a PBR below a threshold of 0.7, a situation that characterizes many banks in recent years, especially in the euro area. We demonstrate these features using data for 271 advanced economy banks in 29 jurisdictions. Dividend payouts as a proportion of profits rise in a non-linear way as the PBR falls below 0.7. In a hypothetical exercise with fixed balance sheet ratios, we find that a suspension of bank dividends in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic would have added, under different stress scenarios and parametrizations, an additional US$0.2–1.1 trillion of bank lending capacity in our sample, equivalent to 0.3–1.6% of total GDP.
Predicting net growth rates in boreal forests using Landsat time series and permanent sample plot data
Authors: Morin-Bernard Alexandre , Coops Nicholas C , White Joanne C , Achim Alexis
Published: November 2023

Increasing temperature and changes in water dynamics are bringing uncertainty regarding the future productivity of boreal forests, even in the absence of stand-replacing disturbances. There is accumulating evidence that water deficits caused by warmer summer temperatures are linked to decreases in the growth rate of boreal tree species in some regions. In this context, it is essential to provide forest professionals with a means of monitoring net forest growth rates in undisturbed areas and at the scale of a management unit in order to determine where and when changes in growth are taking place. This is challenging using conventional forest inventory approaches. In this study, we use Landsat time series and data from permanent sample plots (PSP) to develop spatially explicit estimates of annual net basal area growth at a 30-m spatial resolution for a forest management unit in Canada. An ordinary least square regression model was developed using data from 120 PSPs and validated on an independent set of 60 PSPs, with R2 values of 0.61 and 0.58, respectively. Applying the model over a 586 607-ha study area revealed considerable temporal and spatial variability in the predicted growth rates and their evolution through time. There was an overall decline in predicted growth rates over time, with this trend corroborated by the PSP data and attributed to the ageing demographics of the forests in the study area. This variability was related to forest development stage, species composition, and structural attributes derived from light detection and ranging (LiDAR). The information generated by the suggested approach can help to improve yield predictions, optimize rotation lengths, and allow for the identification of target areas where silvicultural interventions aimed at maintaining or enhancing growth could be conducted.
The undiminished constituent: Afterword to the Foreword by Sergio Verdugo
Authors: Christodoulidis Emilios
Published: November 2023

This Afterword is a response to Sergio Verdugo’s Foreword. It provides a defense of the notion of constituent power as a necessary element of the constitutional imaginary and ineradicable dimension of any credible account of democratic constitutionalism. It takes issue with what Verdugo identifies as the ‘conventional’ approach to constituent power, and argues that the collapse of constituent power into constituted power comes, philosophically and politically, at a significant cost. It concludes with a discussion of the recent irruption of constituent power in the constitutional situation in Chile.
The player, the programmer and the AI: a copyright odyssey in gaming
Authors: Farmaki Despoina
Published: November 2023

The advancement of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technology has fundamentally altered the production and ownership of works, including video games. That is because, with the development of AI systems, machines are now capable of not only producing works that are similar to existing ones but also creating works that are truly original and creative. The question of how such works should be protected under copyright law is a complex and evolving one. It is crucial to take into account the numerous approaches that have been proposed in this regard for the copyright protection of AI-generated works alongside related criticisms. Regardless of the approach employed, the issue of copyright protection for AI-generated works becomes more complicated if one considers the exclusive rights copyright holders enjoy, such as the communication to the public right via video game streaming. It will be feasible to create a framework for the protection of AI-generated works that is fair, effective and responsive to the requirements of both creators and users by carefully examining the legal and practical challenges involved.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Varicella-Zoster Virus Exposure in High-Risk Children
Authors: Shteynberg Emily , Sun Shan , Jhaveri Ravi , Patel Sameer J
Published: November 2023

Background

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with varicella immunoglobulin is recommended to minimize risk of varicella complications for high-risk children. However, providers frequently use alternatives like acyclovir or intravenous immunoglobulin.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of PEP for varicella in children from January 2009 to December 2019. Data were provided by 47 children’s hospitals who participate in the Pediatric Health Information Systems database. Patients with clinical encounters for varicella exposure were reviewed. Choice of varicella PEP regimens, including differences by underlying condition and institution, and incidence of varicella disease were determined.

Results

A total of 1704 patients with first clinical encounters for varicella met inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 509 (29.9%) were prescribed PEP after varicella exposure, and 65 (3.8%) ultimately had a subsequent encounter for varicella disease. Of 509 patients who received PEP, acyclovir was most frequently prescribed (n = 195, 38.3%), followed by varicella immunoglobulin (n = 146, 28.7%), IVIG (n = 115, 22.6%), and combination therapy (n = 53, 10.4%). The highest proportion of varicella immunoglobulin use (10/20, 50%) was amongst children with diagnoses of rheumatological/gastrointestinal conditions. The highest proportion of acyclovir use (29/684, 4.2%) was amongst children with diagnoses of oncology/stem cell transplant conditions. The proportion of patients who subsequently had clinical encounters for varicella disease was highest for Acyclovir (30/195, 15.4%) followed by varicella immunoglobulin (5/146, 3.4%), combination therapy (2/53, 3.8%), and intravenous immunoglobulin alone (0/115) (P < .0001).

Conclusions

Varicella PEP in high-risk children was highly varied among children’s hospitals. In our dataset, use of acyclovir was associated with a higher rate of subsequent encounters for Varicella disease.
AtIAR1 is a Zn transporter that regulates auxin metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Gate Thomas , Hill Lionel , Miller Anthony J , Sanders Dale
Published: November 2023

Root growth in Arabidopsis is inhibited by exogenous auxin–amino acid conjugates, and mutants resistant to one such conjugate [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)–Ala] map to a gene (AtIAR1) that is a member of a metal transporter family. Here, we test the hypothesis that AtIAR1 controls the hydrolysis of stored conjugated auxin to free auxin through zinc transport. AtIAR1 complements a yeast mutant sensitive to zinc, but not manganese- or iron-sensitive mutants, and the transporter is predicted to be localized to the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi in plants. A previously identified Atiar1 mutant and a non-expressed T-DNA mutant both exhibit altered auxin metabolism, including decreased IAA–glucose conjugate levels in zinc-deficient conditions and insensitivity to the growth effect of exogenous IAA–Ala conjugates. At a high concentration of zinc, wild-type plants show a novel enhanced response to root growth inhibition by exogenous IAA–Ala which is disrupted in both Atiar1 mutants. Furthermore, both Atiar1 mutants show changes in auxin-related phenotypes, including lateral root density and hypocotyl length. The findings therefore suggest a role for AtIAR1 in controlling zinc release from the secretory system, where zinc homeostasis plays a key role in regulation of auxin metabolism and plant growth regulation.
The Hidden Enemy: Mal de Débarquement Syndrome and Its Impact on Military Operations
Authors: Hughes Charlotte K , Eliason Michael J , Matsuoka Akihiro J
Published: November 2023

Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a poorly understood vestibular disorder that frequently affects military personnel exposed to motion during transportation and deployment. It is characterized by a persistent sensation of motion often experienced after disembarking from a ship or other mode of transportation. It can significantly affect a service member’s balance, coordination, attention, and focus, which can then substantially impact their quality of life, ability to perform their military duties, and overall mission readiness. Despite its potential impact, comprehensive studies on MdDS are scarce, especially within the military. The unique conditions of military service, including frequent travel, long flights, maritime deployments, and high-stress environments, make the military well suited to study MdDS. Increased awareness and understanding of MdDS is crucial for everyone in the military—from medical personnel responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of MdDS to commanders who must consider the operational impact of impaired personnel.
Optical emission model for Binary Black Hole merger remnants travelling through discs of Active Galactic Nuclei
Authors: Rodríguez-Ramírez J C , Bom C R , Fraga B , Nemmen R
Published: November 2023

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have been proposed as plausible sites for hosting a sizable fraction of the binary black hole (BBH) mergers measured through gravitational waves (GWs) by the LIGO–Virgo–Kagra (LVK) experiment. These GWs could be accompanied by radiation feedback due to the interaction of the BBH merger remnant with the AGN disc. We present a new predicted radiation signature driven by the passage of a kicked BBH remnant throughout a thin AGN disc. We analyse the situation of a merger occurring outside the thin disc, where the merger is of second or higher generation in a merging hierarchical sequence. The coalescence produces a kicked BH remnant that eventually plunges into the disc, accretes material, and inflates jet cocoons. We consider the case of a jet cocoon propagating quasi-parallel to the disc plane and study the outflow that results when the cocoon emerges from the disc. We calculate the transient emission of the emerging cocoon using a photon diffusion model typically employed to describe the light curves of supernovae. Depending on the parameter configuration, the flare produced by the emerging cocoon could be comparable to or exceed the AGN background emission at optical, and extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. For instance, in AGNs with central engines of ∼5 × 106 M⊙, flares driven by BH remnants with masses of ∼100 M⊙ can appear in about ∼[10–100] d after the GW, lasting for few days.
RNA G-quadruplex folding is a multi-pathway process driven by conformational entropy
Authors: Ugrina Marijana , Burkhart Ines , Müller Diana , Schwalbe Harald , Schwierz Nadine
Published: November 2023

The kinetics of folding is crucial for the function of many regulatory RNAs including RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s). Here, we characterize the folding pathways of a G-quadruplex from the telomeric repeat-containing RNA by combining all-atom molecular dynamics and coarse-grained simulations with circular dichroism experiments. The quadruplex fold is stabilized by cations and thus, the ion atmosphere forming a double layer surrounding the highly charged quadruplex guides the folding process. To capture the ionic double layer in implicit solvent coarse-grained simulations correctly, we develop a matching procedure based on all-atom simulations in explicit water. The procedure yields quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments as judged by the populations of folded and unfolded states at different salt concentrations and temperatures. Subsequently, we show that coarse-grained simulations with a resolution of three interaction sites per nucleotide are well suited to resolve the folding pathways and their intermediate states. The results reveal that the folding progresses from unpaired chain via hairpin, triplex and double-hairpin constellations to the final folded structure. The two- and three-strand intermediates are stabilized by transient Hoogsteen interactions. Each pathway passes through two on-pathway intermediates. We hypothesize that conformational entropy is a hallmark of rG4 folding. Conformational entropy leads to the observed branched multi-pathway folding process for TERRA25. We corroborate this hypothesis by presenting the free energy landscapes and folding pathways of four rG4 systems with varying loop length.
A sodium/potassium switch for G4-prone G/C-rich sequences
Authors: Luo Yu , Živković Martina Lenarčič , Wang Jiawei , Ryneš Jan , Foldynová-Trantírková Silvie , Trantírek Lukáš , Verga Daniela , Mergny Jean-Louis
Published: November 2023

Metal ions are essential components for the survival of living organisms. For most species, intracellular and extracellular ionic conditions differ significantly. As G-quadruplexes (G4s) are ion-dependent structures, changes in the [Na+]/[K+] ratio may affect the folding of genomic G4s. More than 11000 putative G4 sequences in the human genome (hg19) contain at least two runs of three continuous cytosines, and these mixed G/C-rich sequences may form a quadruplex or a competing hairpin structure based on G-C base pairing. In this study, we examine how the [Na+]/[K+] ratio influences the structures of G/C-rich sequences. The natural G4 structure with a 9-nt long central loop, CEBwt, was chosen as a model sequence, and the loop bases were gradually replaced by cytosines. The series of CEB mutations revealed that the presence of cytosines in G4 loops does not prevent G4 folding or decrease G4 stability but increases the probability of forming a competing structure, either a hairpin or an intermolecular duplex. Slow conversion to the quadruplex in vitro (in a potassium-rich buffer) and cells was demonstrated by NMR. ‘Shape-shifting’ sequences may respond to [Na+]/[K+] changes with delayed kinetics.