bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep learning for robust and flexible tracking in behavioral studies for C. elegans
Authors: Bates Kathleen , Le Kim N. , Lu Hang
Published: April 2022

Robust and accurate behavioral tracking is essential for ethological studies. Common methods for tracking and extracting behavior rely on user adjusted heuristics that can significantly vary across different individuals, environments, and experimental conditions. As a result, they are difficult to implement in large-scale behavioral studies with complex, heterogenous environmental conditions. Recently developed deep-learning methods for object recognition such as Faster R-CNN have advantages in their speed, accuracy, and robustness. Here, we show that Faster R-CNN can be employed for identification and detection of Caenorhabditis elegans in a variety of life stages in complex environments. We applied the algorithm to track animal speeds during development, fecundity rates and spatial distribution in reproductive adults, and behavioral decline in aging populations. By doing so, we demonstrate the flexibility, speed, and scalability of Faster R-CNN across a variety of experimental conditions, illustrating its generalized use for future large-scale behavioral studies.
Blind demixing methods for recovering dense neuronal morphology from barcode imaging data
Authors: Chen Shuonan , Loper Jackson , Zhou Pengcheng , Paninski Liam
Published: April 2022

Cellular barcoding methods offer the exciting possibility of ‘infinite-pseudocolor’ anatomical reconstruction—i.e., assigning each neuron its own random unique barcoded ‘pseudocolor,’ and then using these pseudocolors to trace the microanatomy of each neuron. Here we use simulations, based on densely-reconstructed electron microscopy microanatomy, with signal structure matched to real barcoding data, to quantify the feasibility of this procedure. We develop a new blind demixing approach to recover the barcodes that label each neuron, and validate this method on real data with known barcodes. We also develop a neural network which uses the recovered barcodes to reconstruct the neuronal morphology from the observed fluorescence imaging data, ‘connecting the dots’ between discontiguous barcode amplicon signals. We find that accurate recovery should be feasible, provided that the barcode signal density is sufficiently high. This study suggests the possibility of mapping the morphology and projection pattern of many individual neurons simultaneously, at high resolution and at large scale, via conventional light microscopy.
Prevalence and health care costs of mitochondrial disease in Ontario, Canada: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Buajitti Emmalin , Rosella Laura C. , Zabzuni Ersi , Young L. Trevor , Andreazza Ana C.
Published: April 2022

Background

Mitochondrial disease prevalence has been estimated at 1 in 4000 in the United States, and 1 in 5000 worldwide. Prevalence in Canada has not been established, though multi-linked health administrative data resources present a unique opportunity to establish robust population-based estimates in a single-payer health system. This study used administrative data for the Ontario, Canada population between April 1988 and March 2019 to measure mitochondrial disease prevalence and describe patient characteristics and health care costs.

Results

3069 unique individuals were hospitalized with mitochondrial disease in Ontario and eligible for the study cohort, representing a period prevalence of 2.51 per 10,000 or 1 in 3989. First hospitalization was most common between ages 0–9 or 50–69. The mitochondrial disease population experiences a high need for health care and incurred high costs (mean = CAD$24,023 in 12 months before first hospitalization) within the single-payer Ontario health care system.

Conclusions

This study provides needed insight into mitochondrial disease in Canada, and demonstrates the high health burden on patients. The methodology used can be adapted across jurisdictions with similar routine collection of health data, such as in other Canadian provinces. Future work should seek to validate this approach via record linkage of existing disease cohorts in Ontario, and identify specific comorbidities with mitochondrial disease that may contribute to high health resource utilization.
Numerical investigation of the effect of spanwise length and mesh density on flow around cylinder at Re = 3900 using LES model
Authors: Ali Haider , Khan Niaz Bahadur , Jameel Muhammad , Khan Azam , Sajid Muhammad , Munir Adnan , Ahmed A. El-Sayed , Abdulkhaliq M. Alharbi Khalid , Galal Ahmed M.
Published: April 2022

Flow around circular cylinder has been extensively studied by researchers for several decades due to its wide range of engineering applications such as in heat exchangers, marine cables, high rise building, chimneys, and offshore structures. The lack of clear understanding of the unsteady flow dynamics in the wake of circular cylinder and high computational cost are still an area of high interest amongst the researchers. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of variation in spanwise length and grid resolution in the spanwise direction on the recirculation length, separation angle of wake flow by performing large eddy simulations (LES). This study is an extension to previous work by Khan, NB et al, 2019 in which the spanwise length is restricted to 4D only. In current study, the spanwise length is changed from 0.5D to 8D where D is diameter of cylinder and mesh resolution in the spanwise direction is changed from 1 to 80 elements in the present study. The recirculation length, separation angle and wake characteristics are analyzed in detail. It is concluded that after getting optimize spanwise length, mesh resolution in the spanwise direction is the only parameter contributing toward better result.
Soil bacterial assemblage responses to wildfire in low elevation southern California habitats
Authors: Cox Elena , Cavalcanti André R. O. , Crane Edward J. , Meyer Wallace M.
Published: April 2022

Understanding how wildfires and modification in plant assemblages interact to influence soil bacteria assemblages is a crucial step in understanding how these disturbances may influence ecosystem structure and function. Here, we resampled soil from three study sites previously surveyed in spring 2016 and 2017 and compared soil bacterial assemblages prior to and six months after (spring 2019) the 2018 Woolsey Fire in the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. All sites harbored both native California sage scrub and a non-native (grassland or forbland) habitat, allowing us to examine how fire influenced bacterial assemblages in common southern California habitats. Most results contrasted with oura-priorihypotheses: (1) richness and diversity increased following the fire, (2) heat/drought resistant and sensitive bacteria did not show consistent and differing patterns by increasing and decreasing, respectively, in relative abundance after the fire, and (3) bacterial assemblage structure was only minimally impacted by fire, with no differences being found between 2017 (pre-fire) and 2019 (post-fire) in three of the six habitats sampled. As sage scrub and non-native grasslands consistently harbored unique bacterial assemblages both before and following the fire, modifications in plant compositions will likely have legacy effects on these soils that persist even after a fire. Combined, our results demonstrate that bacterial assemblages in southern California habitats are minimally affected by fire. Because direct impacts of fire are limited, but indirect impacts, e.g., modifications in plant compositions, are significant, plant restoration efforts following a fire should strive to revegetate sage scrub areas to prevent legacy changes in bacterial composition.
The new normal: Covid-19 risk perceptions and support for continuing restrictions past vaccinations
Authors: Graso Maja
Published: April 2022

I test the possibility that over-estimating negative consequences of COVID-19 (e.g., hospitalizations, deaths, and threats to children) will be associated with stronger support the ‘new normal’ (i.e., continuation of restrictions for an undefined period starting with wide-spread access to vaccines and completed vaccinations of vulnerable people). Thenew normalwas assessed by endorsing practices such as vaccine passports, travel restrictions, mandatory masking, continuing contact tracing, and pursuing elimination. Results are based on five samples (N= 1,233 from April 2021 andN= 264 from January 2022) and suggest that peopleover-estimate COVID-19 risks to children and healthy people, as evidenced by median estimates that 5% of all global deaths were children, 29% were generally healthy people under 65, and that a healthy person under the age of 65 has 5% chance of dying from COVID-19. Over-estimates observed in this study align with those based on representative samples, and they were consistently related to stronger support for the new normal. This relationship emerged when participants estimated risks with percentages (core indicators) and indicated the extent to which risk-based statements are true/supported with evidence or false/unsupported (alternative indicators). People were notably more likely to support continuing restrictions if they believed that COVID-19 risk and risk mitigation tactics are true, even when they are not (e.g., children need to be prioritized for boosters). These relationships persisted when considering competing explanations (political ideology, statistics literacy, belief in conspiracy theories). I trace these effects to well-meaning efforts to prevent under-estimation. Public policy and people’s perceptions of risks are intertwined, where even inaccurate judgments may influence decisions. Failure to combatallmisinformation with equal rigor may jeopardize the restoration of the social and economic life essential for building adaptive post-pandemic societies.
The Fim and FhaB adhesins play a crucial role in nasal cavity infection and Bordetella pertussis transmission in a novel mouse catarrhal infection model
Authors: Holubova Jana , Stanek Ondrej , Juhasz Attila , Hamidou Soumana Illiassou , Makovicky Peter , Sebo Peter
Published: April 2022

Pulmonary infections caused by Bordetella pertussis used to be the prime cause of infant mortality in the pre-vaccine era and mouse models of pertussis pneumonia served in characterization of B. pertussis virulence mechanisms. However, the biologically most relevant catarrhal disease stage and B. pertussis transmission has not been adequately reproduced in adult mice due to limited proliferation of the human-adapted pathogen on murine nasopharyngeal mucosa. We used immunodeficient C57BL/6J MyD88 KO mice to achieve B. pertussis proliferation to human-like high counts of 108 viable bacteria per nasal cavity to elicit rhinosinusitis accompanied by robust shedding and transmission of B. pertussis bacteria to adult co-housed MyD88 KO mice. Experiments with a comprehensive set of B. pertussis mutants revealed that pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin, the T3SS effector BteA/BopC and several other known virulence factors were dispensable for nasal cavity infection and B. pertussis transmission in the immunocompromised MyD88 KO mice. In contrast, mutants lacking the filamentous hemagglutinin (FhaB) or fimbriae (Fim) adhesins infected the nasal cavity poorly, shed at low levels and failed to productively infect co-housed MyD88 KO or C57BL/6J mice. FhaB and fimbriae thus appear to play a critical role in B. pertussis transmission. The here-described novel murine model of B. pertussis-induced nasal catarrh opens the way to genetic dissection of host mechanisms involved in B. pertussis shedding and to validation of key bacterial transmission factors that ought to be targeted by future pertussis vaccines.
Identification of a two-component regulatory system involved in antimicrobial peptide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Diagne Aissatou Maty , Pelletier Anaïs , Durmort Claire , Faure Agathe , Kanonenberg Kerstin , Freton Céline , Page Adeline , Delolme Frédéric , Vorac Jaroslav , Vallet Sylvain , Bellard Laure , Vivès Corinne , Fieschi Franck , Vernet Thierry , Rousselle Patricia , Guiral Sébastien , Grangeasse Christophe , Jault Jean-Michel , Orelle Cédric
Published: April 2022

Two-component regulatory systems (TCS) are among the most widespread mechanisms that bacteria use to sense and respond to environmental changes. In the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae, a total of 13 TCS have been identified and many of them have been linked to pathogenicity. Notably, TCS01 strongly contributes to pneumococcal virulence in several infection models. However, it remains one of the least studied TCS in pneumococci and its functional role is still unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that TCS01 cooperates with a BceAB-type ABC transporter to sense and induce resistance to structurally-unrelated antimicrobial peptides of bacterial origin that all target undecaprenyl-pyrophosphate or lipid II, which are essential precursors of cell wall biosynthesis. Even though tcs01 and bceAB genes do not locate in the same gene cluster, disruption of either of them equally sensitized the bacterium to the same set of antimicrobial peptides. We show that the key function of TCS01 is to upregulate the expression of the transporter, while the latter appears the main actor in resistance. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays further demonstrated that the response regulator of TCS01 binds to the promoter region of the bceAB genes, implying a direct control of these genes. The BceAB transporter was overexpressed and purified from E. coli. After reconstitution in liposomes, it displayed substantial ATPase and GTPase activities that were stimulated by antimicrobial peptides to which it confers resistance to, revealing new functional features of a BceAB-type transporter. Altogether, this inducible defense mechanism likely contributes to the survival of the opportunistic microorganism in the human host, in which competition among commensal microorganisms is a key determinant for effective host colonization and invasive path.
Prevalence and risk factors associated with repeat breeding of beef cattle in Sleman Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Maulana Rian , Susetya Heru , Prihatno Surya Agus
Published: April 2022

Background and Aim: Various management practices may cause the occurrence of reproductive failure indicated by repeat breeding in beef cattle. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the risk factors of repeat breeding in beef cattle in Sleman Regency, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Observational and cross-sectional studies were used to determine the prevalence and the risk factors of repeat breeding. Sampling was conducted using a multistage cluster design. The sample size was determined using a sampling formula (n=4 PQ/L2). Questionnaire and interview data were evaluated descriptively. Chi-square analysis and odds ratio (OR) test were conducted to determine the association and association strength with a confidence level of 95%. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis through multivariate logistic regression test was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21.0 software. Results: The results indicated that the prevalence of repeat breeding in beef cattle in the Sleman Regency was 30.4%. Multivariate analysis indicated that risk factors that significantly affected the repeat breeding were breeding experience (p=0.000; OR=3.378), knowledge of estrus cycle (p=0.000; OR=5.263), feed type (p=0.001; OR=6.061), feeding frequency (p=0.003; OR=2.77), shed hygiene (p=0.33; OR=2,381), and drainage system (p=0.000; OR=4,484). Conclusion: Various husbandry management significantly influence the incidence of repeat breeding in beef cattle in Sleman Regency with the type of feed, which was the highest risk factor. Hay should not be used as the main feed source since it might increase the incidence of repeat breeding. However, the other environmental factors such as season and presence of infection or parasite also need to be investigated further.
COVID-related disclosure practices of Hungarian entities
Authors: Kovács Zsuzsanna Ilona , Lippai-Makra Edit
Published: April 2022

The pandemic has brought unexpected challenges to businesses as they need to cope with the impact of the virus on their sales performance and face the information need of their stakeholders at the same time. Our study aims to discover the COVID-related risk disclosure practices of Hungarian, publicly listed sample entities in the annual statements prepared for the year 2020. Based on what we have found, the disclosure practices of Hungarian listed entities is quite heterogeneous, there are great differences in the extent of communication with the stakeholders.
An examination of obesity in terms of eating behavior and selfcontrol
Authors: Krisztik-Pető Dalma
Published: April 2022

Obesity has become a pandemic that has been spreading for decades now. The treatment of diseases caused by obesity places a burden on the economy, with health care expenditures and even with indirect costs. Eating behaviour and self-control are considered to be the most important factors regarding the treatment and prevention of obesity. This study is looking for the answer to what level of self-control young consumers have, and how this affects their eating behavior and, through it, their body weight. Based on the results, it is concluded that the respondents do not necessarily judge their weight realistically. Self-control has a prominent role to play in preventing obesity. According to this research, individuals with weak selfcontrol are most characterized by emotional eating and eating for external influences, while those with strong self-control are characterized by restrained eating.
O USO DE CANABINOIDES DE CANNABIS SATIVA L. NO TRATAMENTO DA EPILEPSIA: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
Authors: Lopes Lucas Alonso , De-Carli Bruno Paes , Moura Caio Silva , Manzi Agatha
Published: April 2022

O uso da Cannabis sativa para fins medicinais é um assunto bastante polêmico no Brasil, por isso é necessário se aprofundar no tema para elucidar as principais dúvidas e possíveis benefícios. A epilepsia é uma doença que causa alterações neurológicas, como crises epilépticas, disfagia e convulsões. Pode levar a danos cognitivos, psicológicos e comorbidades, piorando a qualidade de vida do paciente. Neste estudo foi realizada uma revisão integrativa sobre os diferentes tipos de canabinóides de C. sativa e seu uso no tratamento da epilepsia. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de  artigos de pesquisa publicados em periódicos entre 1963 e 2020. Atenção especial foi dada a diferentes metabólitos, como o canabidiol (CBD). Aspectos gerais da epilepsia, uso de fitocanabinóides em casos refratários e ensaios clínicos e pré-clínicos foram abordados nesta revisão, enfatizando seus efeitos biológicos. Como alvo futuro para o tratamento da epilepsia, o uso terapêutico do CBD em neurologia mostra resultados promissores nos casos em que a medicação convencional não tem efeito. Uma contribuição da pesquisa sobre outros fitocanabinóides e sua inter-relação é essencial para avançar no tratamento da epilepsia e outras patologias.
Technikfolgenabschätzung im Kontext von Hochschulbildung: Theorien, Praxisansätze und Konzepte
Authors: Hemminger Elke , Eimler Sabrina C.
Published: April 2022

Technology assessment (TA) occurs in a variety of educational contexts, its content and methods can contribute to dealing with socially relevant issues from different perspectives across disciplinary boundaries. However, the transdisciplinarity of TA raises the question in which educational contexts TA perspectives are introduced and how educational processes can be effectively structured and strengthened. This issue therefore addresses both perspectives: practice in various trans- and interdisciplinary educational contexts, as well as TA’s own educational practice.
Möglichkeiten und Perspektiven der Technikfolgenabschätzung in der Bildung
Authors: Hemminger Elke , Eimler Sabrina C.
Published: April 2022

Technology assessment (TA) occurs in a variety of educational contexts, its content and methods can contribute to dealing with socially relevant issues from different perspectives across disciplinary boundaries. However, the transdisciplinarity of TA raises the question in which educational contexts TA perspectives are introduced and how educational processes can be effectively structured and strengthened. This issue therefore addresses both perspectives: practice in various trans- and interdisciplinary educational contexts, as well as TA’s own educational practice.
Augmented and virtual reality technologies in education for sustainable development: An expert-based technology assessment
Authors: Ebinger Frank , Buttke Livia , Kreimeier Julian
Published: April 2022

Digitalization in the field of education for sustainable development (ESD) has gained attention in the last decade. In particular, technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) offer new ways to deliver educational content on sustainable development by simulating real-world experiences and using immersive and interactive formats for learning. Using an explorative qualitative research approach, the benefits of AR and VR technologies in the context of ESD are assessed. The results of a first expert panel show that AR and VR technologies are particularly suitable for sustainability topics when an understanding of action and the transfer of knowledge and values are to be promoted among learners.
Dwujęzyczność a opóźnienie poznawczych objawów demencji
Authors: Jakoniuk-Diallo Anna , Bączyk Martyna
Published: April 2022

Bilingualism is a topic that is most often discussed in the context of raising and working with children. However, the role that bilingualism plays in adulthood and late adulthood is underestimated in the literature. At this stage of life, some people may develop the first symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, mainly associated with memory and communication disorders. The article briefly introduces the most common causes of dementia symptoms and then discusses bilingualism in several, closely related aspects. The publication contains information on the impact of bilingualism on delaying the symptoms of dementia and triggers of this phenomenon. The creativity of bilinguals and the unique impact of bilingualism on working memory and executive control are addressed.
Model wirtualny nauczania zdalnego w edukacji wczesnoszkolnej w nurcie pedagogiki Celestyna Freineta – perspektywa uczniów i nauczycieli
Authors: Abramowicz Dawid , Kędra Marzena , Groborz Izabela
Published: April 2022

Remote education is not a new issue discussed in the literature, but in the face of the restrictions introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, this type of education has developed dynamically. In the conditions of technological progress, it seems that the virtual model is particularly interesting in remote education. It was applied in March-June 2020 at the level of early childhood education at the Cogito Public Primary School in Poznań. In order to identify and evaluate remote education in the virtual model from the perspective of students and teachers, surveys with the use of an on-line questionnaire and focused group interviews were carried out.
Effect of imidazoline derivatives on the corrosion inhibition of Q235 steel in HCl medium: experimental and theoretical investigation
Authors: Wang Pengjie , Xiong Liping , He Zhongyi , Xu Xin , Hu Jianqiang , Chen Qi , Zhang Renhui , Pu Jibin , Guo Lei
Published: April 2022

In this work, two new imidazoline derivatives (SMF and SMIF) have been synthesized successfully, and their structure have been confirmed by IR, Raman, and NMR techniques. The corrosion inhibition ability and mechanism in HCl solution were proved by experimental and theoretical methods. The inhibition efficiency of SMIF was 94.69% in weight loss experiment, 95.99% (Tafel), and 95.30% (EIS) in electrochemistry. The corrosion inhibition mechanism is that SMF and SMIF form a stable protective film on the surface of Q235 and hinders charge transfer. EDS, FT-IR, and XPS all proved that SMF and SMIF inhibitors could stably adsorb on Q235 surface and form a protective film. The DFT and MD also proved the corrosion inhibiton mechanism. Experiments and theoretical calculations showed that SMF and SMIF exhibited excellent corrosion inhibition performance in 1 M HCl solution.
The Effect of Segmentation Signs in Compounds on Reading Behavior: an Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Deilen Silvana , Hansen-Schirra Silvia , Nagels Arne
Published: April 2022

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of visual segmentation, complexity, and context on the cognitive processing of compounds in Easy Language. By presenting compounds in different boundary conditions, we determined whether a segmentation cue facilitates the processing of compounds presented with and without contextual information. The study was conducted with unimpaired adults and with hearing-impaired pupils, representing one of the Easy Language target groups. The results indicate that visual segmentation facilitates processing of compounds for pupils with low literacy skills. However, they only benefit from segmentation when morpheme boundaries are marked in a subtle way, i. e., without strikingly deviating from the standard version. Pupils with higher literacy skills and unimpaired adults do not profit from segmentation. Even though hyphenation slows down compound processing for unimpaired readers, initial processing advantages of hyphenated over concatenated compounds emerged, which is explained by the fact that hyphenation forces a morpheme-based access and enables fast recognition of the compound’s first constituent. However, it hinders readers from accessing the compound via the direct route and thus slows down the processing of the compound as a whole.
100 GHz micrometer-compact broadband monolithic ITO Mach–Zehnder interferometer modulator enabling 3500 times higher packing density
Authors: Gui Yaliang , Nouri Behrouz Movahhed , Miscuglio Mario , Amin Rubab , Wang Hao , Khurgin Jacob B. , Dalir Hamed , Sorger Volker J.
Published: April 2022

Electro-optic modulators provide a key function in optical transceivers and increasingly in photonic programmable application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for machine learning and signal processing. However, both foundry-ready silicon-based modulators and conventional material-based devices utilizing lithium-niobate fall short in simultaneously providing high chip packaging density and fast speed. Current-driven ITO-based modulators have the potential to achieve both enabled by efficient light–matter interactions. Here, we introduce micrometer-compact Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI)-based modulators capable of exceeding 100 GHz switching rates. Integrating ITO-thin films atop a photonic waveguide, one can achieve an efficient

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 = 0.1 V mm, spectrally broadband, and compact MZI phase shifter. Remarkably, this allows integrating more than 3500 of these modulators within the same chip area as only one single silicon MZI modulator. The modulator design introduced here features a holistic photonic, electronic, and RF-based optimization and includes an asymmetric MZI tuning step to optimize the extinction ratio (ER)-to-insertion loss (IL) and dielectric thickness sweep to balance the trade-offs between ER and speed. Driven by CMOS compatible bias voltage levels, this device is the first to address next-generation modulator demands for processors of the machine intelligence revolution, in addition to the edge and cloud computing demands as well as optical transceivers alike.
Photonic crystal L3 cavity laser fabricated using maskless digital photolithography
Authors: Kang Minsu , Jin Heesoo , Jeon Heonsu
Published: April 2022

Projection photolithography using an extreme-ultraviolet light source is the core technology that has enabled patterning on the scale of a few nanometers that is required for modern electronic chips. However, this high-end system is neither affordable nor needed for photonics where critical feature sizes are of 100s of nanometers (or of submicron). Although electron-beam lithography can provide a means for photonic device fabrication, it suffers from extremely low throughput. Therefore, a lithographic technique for submicron pattern generation at high throughput and low cost is in high demand. This group recently showed that maskless digital photolithography (MDPL), a convenient and versatile photolithographic technique that requires no photomask, could potentially address this demand by demonstrating photonic crystal (PhC) patterns with submicron periodicity and associated PhC band-edge lasers. In this paper, we report the fabrication of a PhC L3 cavity laser, which contains irregular air holes in terms of their positions and sizes, using the MDPL technique. Successful generation of such an aperiodic and nontrivial submicron pattern requires thorough understanding and scrupulous manipulation on light diffraction. Our achievements should provide the concrete foundation upon which compact, versatile, convenient, speedy, and economical lithographic tools for arbitrary submicron pattern generation can be developed.
Alkaline-earth metal(II) complexes of salinomycin – spectral properties and antibacterial activity
Authors: Pantcheva Ivayla , Petkov Nikolay , Simova Svetlana , Zhorova Rumyana , Dorkov Petar
Published: April 2022

In the present paper the synthesis and structural characterization of alkaline-earth metal(II) complexes of the polyether ionophorous antibiotic salinomycinic acid (SalH.H2O) are discussed. The complexes [M(Sal)2(H2O)2] (M = Mg2+, 1; Ca2+, 2; Sr2+, 3; Ba2+, 4) were obtained reacting salinomycinic acid and Et4NOH with the corresponding metal(II) salts at metal-to-ligand-to-base molar ratio of 1:1:1. The spectral properties of 1–4 were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analysis data. The crystallinity degree and morphology of complex 2 were studied by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The biometal(II) salinomycinate complexes 1 and 2 possess an enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to the parent antibiotic against Gram-positive bacteria. The comparison between the effectiveness of the complexes, reported here, and the already known isostructural coordination species of salinomycin and monensin (MonH.H2O), revealed that magnesium(II) and calcium(II) monensinates appear to be promising antibacterial agents against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus luteus.
Der Zweite Nachtrag zum Bundeshaushalt 2021 ist ökonomisch und fiskalisch vertretbar
Authors: Wigger Berthold U.
Published: April 2022

Der Zweite Nachtragshaushalt 2021 beinhaltet eine Zuweisung von 60 Mrd. Euro aus dem Kernhaushalt des Bundes an das Sondervermögen „Energie- und Klimafonds“ aus bislang nicht genutzten Kreditermächtigungen. Angesichts der kombinierten Herausforderungen von Corona-Pandemie und Klimatransformation erscheint diese Vorgehensweise ökonomisch und fiskalisch vertretbar. Alternative Finanzierungsmodelle würden die wirtschaftliche Erholung erschweren oder die Gefahr einer fortdauernden Aushebelung der Schuldenbremse bergen.
TAIKYTI SVEIKATOS TEKSTUOSE: BŪTINASIS REIKŠMĖS PLATINIMAS AR NETINKAMA VARTOSENA?
Authors: Drukteinytė Vaida , Pagojienė Daiva
Published: April 2022

This article analyses the correct use of phrases with the verb taikyti. It discusses the semantic structure of the word, and its different interpretations in dictionaries of the Lithuanian language. Data is collected from the ‘Corpus of the Modern Lithuanian Language’, sources about various functional styles, and a survey. It shows the real contemporary usage of the verb taikyti in texts related to health. The correctness of the use of the examples collected is analysed, and special attention is paid to problematic cases that require a more detailed analysis. The research indicates that for some phrases with taikyti which users view as correct, better contextual equivalents can be found.
Assessing Pozzolanicity of Supplementary Cementitious Materials Using ASTM Standard Test Methods
Authors: Jang Jae Kyeong , Kalina Ryan D. , Al-Shmaisani Saif , Ferron Raissa D. , Juenger Maria C. G.
Published: April 2022

Pozzolanic supplementary cementitious materials improve the long-term strength and durability of concrete systems by forming additional calcium silicate hydrate. ASTM C618, Standard Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete, is a standard specification that covers coal fly ash and raw or calcined natural pozzolans; however, the two criteria in the standard intended to assess pozzolanicity are not sufficient and there are no existing ASTM standard test methods for directly measuring pozzolanicity. In this study, the accelerated mortar bar test for alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in ASTM C1567, Standard Test Method for Determining the Potential Alkali-Silica Reactivity of Combinations of Cementitious Materials and Aggregate (Accelerated Mortar-Bar Method), and modified strength activity index (SAI) testing were tested in tandem to assess pozzolanicity of materials. Known inert materials and pozzolanic materials that qualify as Class N pozzolans and Class F fly ash in ASTM C618 were tested in accordance with ASTM C1567 to find replacement levels that successfully suppress ASR expansion below 0.10 %. The materials were then tested at the same replacement levels in a modified SAI test with a fixed water-to-cementitious materials ratio. The results from the two test methods were coupled to assess pozzolanicity of materials, with materials being classified pozzolanic only if they suppressed ASR expansion below 0.10 % and passed modified SAI testing over 75 % of control at the same replacement level. Neither of the test methods on their own can assess pozzolanicity accurately. However, the proposed method in this study successfully screened inert materials that qualify as Class N natural pozzolans and successfully identified pozzolanic materials.
Aberrant Phase Precession of Lateral Septal Cells in a Maternal Immune Activation Model of Schizophrenia Risk May Disrupt the Integration of Location with Reward
Authors: Speers Lucinda J. , Schmidt Robert , Bilkey David K.
Published: April 2022

Spatial memory and reward processing are known to be disrupted in schizophrenia. Since the lateral septum (LS) may play an important role in the integration of location and reward, we examined the effect of maternal immune activation (MIA), a known schizophrenia risk factor, on spatial representation in the rat LS. In support of a previous study, we found that spatial location is represented as a phase code in the rostral LS of adult male rats, so that LS cell spiking shifts systematically against the phase of the hippocampal, theta-frequency, local field potential as an animal moves along a track toward a reward (phase precession). Whereas shallow precession slopes were observed in control group cells, they were steeper in the MIA animals, such that firing frequently precessed across several theta cycles as the animal moved along the length of the apparatus, with subsequent ambiguity in the phase representation of location. Furthermore, an analysis of the phase trajectories of the control group cells revealed that the population tended to converge toward a common firing phase as the animal approached the reward location. This suggested that phase coding in these cells might signal both reward location and the distance to reward. By comparison, the degree of phase convergence in the MIA-group cells was weak, and the region of peak convergence was distal to the reward location. These findings suggest that a schizophrenia risk factor disrupts the phase-based encoding of location–reward relationships in the LS, potentially smearing reward representations across space.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIt is unclear how spatial or contextual information generated by hippocampal cells is converted to a code that can be used to signal reward location in regions, such as the VTA. Here we provide evidence that the firing phase of cells in the lateral septum, a region that links the two areas, may code reward location in the firing phase of cells. This phase coding is disrupted in a maternal immune activation model of schizophrenia risk such that representations of reward may be smeared across space in maternal immune activation animals. This could potentially underlie erroneous reward processing and misattribution of salience in schizophrenia.
Local Interactions between Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials at Nearby Flickering Frequencies
Authors: Liza Kumari , Ray Supratim
Published: April 2022

Steady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEPs) are widely used to index top-down cognitive processing in human electroencephalogram (EEG) studies. Typically, two stimuli flickering at different temporal frequencies (TFs) are presented, each producing a distinct response in the EEG at its flicker frequency. However, how SSVEP responses in EEGs are modulated in the presence of a competing flickering stimulus just because of sensory interactions is not well understood. We have previously shown in local field potentials (LFPs) recorded from awake monkeys that when two overlapping full-screen gratings are counterphased at different TFs, there is an asymmetric SSVEP response suppression, with greater suppression from lower TFs, which further depends on the relative orientations of the gratings (stronger suppression and asymmetry for parallel compared with orthogonal gratings). Here, we first confirmed these effects in both male and female human EEG recordings. Then, we mapped the response suppression of one stimulus (target) by a competing stimulus (mask) over a much wider range than the previous study. Surprisingly, we found that the suppression was not stronger at low frequencies in general, but systematically varied depending on the target TF, indicating local interactions between the two competing stimuli. These results were confirmed in both human EEG and monkey LFP and electrocorticogram (ECoG) data. Our results show that sensory interactions between multiple SSVEPs are more complex than shown previously and are influenced by both local and global factors, underscoring the need to cautiously interpret the results of studies involving SSVEP paradigms.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSteady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEPs) are extensively used in human cognitive studies and brain–computer interfacing applications where multiple stimuli flickering at distinct frequencies are concurrently presented in the visual field. We recently characterized interactions between competing flickering stimuli in animal recordings and found that stimuli flickering slowly produce larger suppression. Here, we confirmed these in human EEGs, and further characterized the interactions by using a much wider range of target and competing (mask) frequencies in both human EEGs and invasive animal recordings. These revealed a new “local” component, whereby the suppression increased when competing stimuli flickered at nearby frequencies. Our results highlight the complexity of sensory interactions among multiple SSVEPs and underscore the need to cautiously interpret studies involving SSVEP paradigms.
Adversidades y posibilidades de alternativas al desarrollo: epistemologías otras y educación ambiental superior
Authors: Eschenhagen María Luisa
Published: April 2022

El objetivo central, del presente texto es reflexionar crítica y constructivamente, a partir de revisiones documentales, sobre la importancia de la educación ambiental superior y su aporte para posibilitar alternativas al desarrollo. Para ello se plantea introductoriamente la pregunta qué son alternativas, para luego evidenciar primero el contexto del propio problema y la importancia de las universidades. Es decir, por un lado, el contexto global de los problemas ambientales y el fracaso del desarrollo sostenible al no haber mejoras sustanciales después de más de 30 años de su implementación y por el otro lado, la neoliberalización y mercantilización de la educación y las universidades conllevan a direccionamientos por intereses economicistas, donde aspectos socioambientales quedan relegados e invisibilizados. Y segundo, evidenciar que, frente a semejante contexto, por un lado, las estructuras clásicas epistemológicas al parecer no pueden ofrecer alternativas, por lo cual se requieren de otras epistemologías capaces de pensar alternativas al desarrollo. Y por el otro lado, que al ser las universidades un lugar estratégico de reproducción de conocimiento y de formación de futuros profesionales, los currículos deberán ser ambientalizados a través de siete requerimientos, para así posibilitar alternativas al desarrollo.
Decolonising the environment through African epistemologies
Authors: Woldeyes Yirga Gelaw , Belachew Tekletsadik
Published: April 2022

This paper examines African epistemologies of the environment as a place-based perspective that regards nature as having its inherent value, personhood, and agency. It presents the African way of relating with or living in the environment as a way of becoming one with nature beyond the discourse of the Anthropocene and environmental change. In particular, we will take African epistemological perspectives from Southern and Eastern Africa, the notions of Ubuntu and Tabot, to reflect on how the environment is traditionally perceived as sacred and part of a living community. The paper also considers how African indigenous ways of knowing and becoming one with nature have been supplanted through epistemic violence, the imposition of western views of the environment over African worldviews through systems and institutions that exclude or exploit local knowledges. Using Ethiopia as a case study, the paper demonstrates how epistemic violence is enacted by excluding indigenous knowledges of the environment from education and disseminating Eurocentric views of the environment. It shall show how the collecting and hording of Ethiopian manuscripts in western institutions has contributed to this loss of indigenous environmental knowledge. Finally, we will examine the importance of African perspectives to decolonise our ways of knowing and relating with the environment, and offer critical insights on how African epistemologies could be used to build a future that is decolonised and sustainable.
El agua y la participación como ejes articuladores del territorio. Consideraciones a partir de Urrá y su incidencia sobre la cuenca del río Sinú
Authors: Clavijo-Bernal Omar F.
Published: April 2022

La construcción de centrales hidroeléctricas en países ecuatoriales –como Colombia– enfrenta los desafíos propios de su diversidad ecosistémica, la cual da lugar a múltiples expresiones culturales que reflejan estrategias adaptativas frente a entornos complejos. Dicha relación se ve condicionada por elementos transversales del territorio, como es el caso de los ríos, cuyas dinámicas influyen en la ecología y tipo de sociedades por las que discurren, por lo que cualquier cambio en sus parámetros comprometerá al conjunto. La central hidroeléctrica de Urrá, ubicada en la cuenca alta del río Sinú (Tierralta, Córdoba) refleja la anterior premisa, al haber transformado la ecología del río, su conexión con otros ecosistemas y cuerpos de agua, así como la integridad física y cultural de las comunidades que interactúan con él, en un contexto de restricción a la participación y de violencia generalizada que acentuó sus afectaciones negativas, en especial sobre pueblos indígenas como los Embera Katío. El presente documento busca aportar elementos para la discusión sobre las implicaciones de las centrales, más allá de los impactos biofísicos que se le atribuyen, al situarlo en un caso y contexto particular en el que la ausencia de participación y la disputa por el control territorial llevan a considerar otras afectaciones y móviles detrás de su implementación y operación.
Conflictos y desafíos para Latinoamérica en la administración sostenible de los recursos naturales
Authors: Ortega-Ramirez Angie Tatiana
Published: April 2022

América Latina cuenta con un tercio de las reservas de agua dulce de todo el mundo, una quinta parte de los bosques naturales y el 12 % de los suelos cultivables de todo el mundo, sin contar la abundante biodiversidad. En el presente artículo se hace una caracterización cualitativa del estado actual de los recursos suelo, agua y aire en los países que conforman la región; de los principales recursos explotados por cada país, y de algunos proyectos de inversión llevados a cabo para el cuidado y rehabilitación de los ecosistemas de importancia desde el punto de vista de la triple cuenta. Todo lo anterior es producto de un análisis documental y comparativo entre los diferentes países de Latinoamérica, donde se concluye que, aunque el subcontinente tiene la mayor oferta de recursos naturales en el mundo, se deben fortalecer la articulación de programas y convenios para cumplir con las Metas Aichi establecidas por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente, Pnuma, y los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, ODS, planteados por las Naciones Unidas.
Aprovechamiento de los polisacáridos de la pulpa de café residual para la obtención de bioetanol como estrategia hacia la bioeconomía
Authors: Acevedo M.-Alejandra , Peñaloza-Quintero Isabella , Morales-Fonseca Diana
Published: April 2022

La caficultura es la actividad agrícola que incluye la producción y comercialización del café como producto tropical de gran importancia en la economía mundial. Por años, la Organización Internacional del Café ha clasificado este fruto en el segundo lugar de productos básicos con mayor valor comercial, por tanto, conlleva grandes producciones en los países cafeteros y representa un impacto económico y ambiental en estos. Este último aspecto genera la necesidad de aprovechar los residuos producidos en esta industria mediante estrategias de sostenibilidad, puesto que en cantidades elevadas estos se convierten en fuentes contaminantes para los recursos naturales. Por ejemplo, la pulpa de café es el principal residuo generado en la caficultura, que de ser aprovechada correctamente aportaría un valor agregado en la industria, debido a que contiene pectina, celulosa, hemicelulosa, polifenoles, cafeína, proteínas, taninos, entre otras sustancias que pueden ser empleadas en la elaboración de bioproductos en diversas industrias. El objetivo de la presente revisión fue evaluar la extracción de polisacáridos de la pulpa de café residual, para la obtención de bioetanol. En su desarrollo se realizó un breve acercamiento a la industria cafetera; seguido de la caracterización química de la pulpa de café residual mediante una revisión bibliográfica, donde los datos obtenidos se compararon con diferentes autores; posteriormente se evaluaron las técnicas de obtención de azúcares, y finalmente se reportan los estudios fundamentados en la obtención de bioetanol con los hidrolizados de la pulpa de café residual.